Work, work, work, eat, eat, eat, shop, shop, shop, work, work work.
If you have no idea what I’m referring to above then you probably aren’t that familiar with the typical North American holiday season…especially Thanksgiving in the States and Christmas in Canada.
Let me flesh it out for some of you:
- Christmas in Canada: We work, then eat turkey (or some other big feast), then we shop on Boxing Day, and then we go back to work.
- Thanksgiving in the States: We work, then eat turkey (or some other big feast), then we shop on Black Friday, and then we go back to work.
So many of us look forward to the holiday season, yet squander the time off with so many “things” to do, that we go back to work only slightly refreshed…if even.
When we look at the creation story, we learn the idea of rhythms.
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And 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)
When we look at the Old Testament law, we learn the idea of rhythms.
“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.” (Exodus 34:21)
When we look at the life of Jesus, we learn the idea of rhythms.
After Jesus fed the five thousand, this is what we read, “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…” (Matthew 14:22-23)
During the Christmas season, when work is winding down, groups are over, and studies are coming to an end, I want to encourage you to take an opportunity to not only rest from your work and your other responsibilities, but to rest in God.
Take a break from your normal “Christmas routine” and practice the idea of rhythms. Spend some time in prayer – rest in God – and see how refreshed you will be in the New Year.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!