Work and Rest

I’ve been on a 3-month sabbatical from work. It is the first time, outside of a hospital bed, that I have turned off work and focused on the four Rs of sabbatical: Rest, Recover, Reflect, and Refocus. I didn’t know how to rest. It’s not something you learn in school and you don’t see webinars advertising “Discover How to Rest.” So, one of the first things I did at the beginning of my sabbatical was to read a few books on Rest. I asked some friends and leaders who had been on a sabbatical to give their recommendations on books to read. One friend recommended a book titled, Buy a Cabin: The Theology and Practice of Rest. So, I ordered the book and it was the first one I read. I’m glad I did. And I found out that the author, Robert Franck, lived here in Colorado Springs. Through my friend, I reached out to Robert and we connected over a cup of coffee after I had already read the book. It was encouraging to put a face on this author who, from my perspective, nailed it in terms of describing the difference between work and rest.

Robert Franck begins his book by using the first occurrence of rest in the Bible – Genesis 2:2-3.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 2:2-3, NIV)

Not only do these verses contain the first use of the word rest in the Bible, they also contain the first use of the word work. God worked and then he rested.

Franck defines work as “Activities that provide for your needs, your family’s needs, and the needs of others.” And he defines rest as “Activities that refresh you after your work.” Those definitions really helped me. I had a misconception about rest. The image is lying in a hammock and doing nothing. Now, that actually can be rest, but I discovered it is too narrow of a concept and certainly does not apply to everyone. Robert Franck brings in the example of Winston Churchill as one who knew how to rest well. Many regard Winston Churchill as one of the most productive workers in history and a great leader in a time of extreme stress in the World. One of the many books Churchill wrote is titled Painting as a Pastime. Churchill’s insight into rejuvenating rest is from his own words in this book:

Many remedies are suggested for the avoidance of worry and overstrain by persons who, over prolonged periods, have to bear exceptional responsibilities and discharge duties upon a very large scale. Some advise exercise, and others repose. Some counsel travel, and others, retreat. Some praise solitude, and other gaiety. No doubt all these may play their part according to individual temperament. But the element which is constant and common in all of them is Change. Change is the master key. 

Robert Franck describes Churchill’s daily routine consisting of three parts: writing in the morning, brick laying in the afternoon, and entertaining in the evening. Writing was his work—intensive brain work. As Franck explains in the book, to recover from the exertion of his work, Churchill required a change. The change for Churchill was mortaring bricks together—he mortared thousands of bricks into fences and retaining walls around his estate south of London. His brick rest did not distract from his word work and his brick rest provided the change that enabled his word work.

This change concept really transformed my thinking on rest. That is why exercise might be the appropriate form of rest for some and why repose (quietness/leisure) will be fitting for others, as Franck explains. For some, the newness and excitement of travel provides rest. For others, the calmness and quietness of retreat provides the needed rest. Read Franck’s book for more descriptions of Churchill’s pairs of opposites.

I took the concepts in Franck’s book and applied them the last three months. Knowing that my job as Chief Scientist at TiER1 is intensive “brain work”, I intentionally went after physical activities on our property in Colorado Springs, taking on home improvement projects and many outside tasks. And Debbie and I recently returned from a 2-week trip to Europe, where the change in scenery and routine provided the needed rest for us. I feel refreshed. It has allowed me to fully experience the four Rs of sabbatical.

If you want to dig into more of this concept of rest, I encourage you to pick up a copy of Frank’s book. You can find it on Amazon here

Amazed By His Love,

Terence