Rest, renew, restore

In Oklahoma, summertime means heat. But, for many people summertime also is when we look forward to a much-anticipated vacation. Whether that means spending time at one of our beautiful Oklahoma lakes, a trip to the mountains, the beach or just spending time at home with family and friends, our vacation time is precious.
 
The Hebrew tradition of the Sabbath and our Christian tradition of the Lord’s Day remind us of the importance of rest and leisure. Jesus says, “The Sabbath is made for man” (Mk 2:27). God commands the Sabbath rest not because he needs it, but because we do. We need it to help us remember who we are and who God is. Whether we take our rest on our weekly holy day (the Lord’s Day), or during an annual vacation or a spiritual retreat, rest is meant to be restorative. Leisure is a good and necessary human experience.
 
There is a sacred element as well, of course. As the psalmist says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). Vacations help us to refocus. They give us permission to disconnect from the ordinary schedules and responsibilities of work and commerce. Imagine a vacation in which we gave ourselves permission even to disconnect from our smart phones, tablets and laptops! (Seem impossible? “Nothing is impossible with God” Lk 1:37!)
 
Disconnecting from technology and social media from time-to-time reveals the liberating truth that the world goes on fine without us. How freeing to discover that we don’t need to be in control all the time. How liberating to know that “God is God and we are not!”
 
Taking time to step away from our overly scheduled routines and activities helps us see our lives and appreciate relationships in new ways, including our relationship with God. This can be as simple as sitting on the patio, going on a picnic, working in the garden or taking a quiet walk in the woods or under the stars in our own neighborhood.
 
Maybe instead of a vacation, a spiritual pilgrimage would provide an opportunity for the spiritual renewal for which our hearts long. A pilgrimage is a sacred journey undertaken in faith to a holy site associated with a saint or one of the mysteries of our rich Catholic faith. One need not go to the Holy Land or Rome or Santiago de Compostela to enjoy the experience of a pilgrimage. We have holy sites much closer to home, within a day’s drive. Why not make a pilgrimage to nearby sites associated with the life of Blessed Stanley Rother such as Okarche or his burial place at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery in Oklahoma City?  
 
Leisure and rest help us awaken to wonder and help us become more aware of God’s mercy and goodness in our lives.
 
I pray you will make time to experience the restorative power of restful leisure this summer.