Even God Needs a Break

Mark 1:29-39

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

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What is your time worth? Can you assign a dollar value to the hours and minutes of your day? Where would you begin? Would it be your salary or hourly wage? What about non-monetary items like time with family, friends, or God? God only knows what happens when our personal lives clash with the economic machinery that demands all our time for work. So what is your time worth? And maybe the question we should be asking is, "Is the work you're doing (whatever you define as work) worth your time at any cost?" Because even God needs a break. Even with the weight of the cosmos on God's shoulders, there was time for a break, for rest, something we've often failed to do. 

Perhaps it's our pesky Puritan heritage and work ethic, but it's no secret that Americans work more hours than our neighbors in Europe or Canada. I don't know what we have to show for our hard work besides people who are overworked, stressed, and feeling the strain on their physical, mental, and spiritual health. According to a report by Randstad Workmonitor, 43% of Americans feel compelled to answer or be available to their employers outside of operating hours. If we're asking how we value our time, then it appears that employers are in the driver's seat. The issue of balancing our work and the time we need for rest is one that even Jesus can't seem to avoid, as we discover in our reading for today.

Jesus has been busy casting out demons, calling the disciples, and meeting with people who came to see him, and now, when he has a chance to be alone, work pops up at home. It starts with Simon's mother-in-law, but pretty soon, a myriad of people who are searching for healing surround the house. There's so much going on at the house that Jesus is forced to wait till it is dark out before he has time to steal away and find time alone to be in prayer. Even being the Son of God, as I said before, God needs a break to re-center and re-prioritize the essential things, the things of the heart and soul. If that type of quality rest is vital to human life, why don't we make it more of a priority? 

Rest is important. Jesus goes away to a deserted place not so that he can have time alone but to refocus his ministry. Yet, during transition, stress, and adversity, we view this time more as a luxury than a necessity. Rest is sacred. The sacredness of rest or taking a pause is an invitation to reevaluate, to re-discover what might be missing or lacking in our lives. 

We've seen how this plays out in our culture. It wasn't that long ago we were talking about "The Great Resignation." We've seen pastors leaving pulpits after burnout during the pandemic, teachers, nurses, and volunteers who've moved on or pulled back from what they were doing. We need a break! Burnout is now a common word in our vocabulary, and while the heart of the Word of God is action, it is also not without rest or a break. We aren't machines that are intended to run forever without self-care or preservation to tend to our bodies and souls. Should we be surprised that almost 20% of Americans are diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Nearly half of American adults report experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. 72% of adults report feeling stressed about money. 

Jesus' break doesn't last long. The reading tells us that the disciples hunt for Jesus. What was so urgent that they couldn't wait? What work at home needed Jesus' attention? The disciples, like us, often get lost in the moment, jumping from one problem to the next, from one work demand to the next, so we can't see what core matters need our attention. We cannot function without sleep; without rest, our bodies, minds, and souls require time to process and make sense of the world. Rest is not laziness. Rest is sacred. If God needs a break, so do we. If God created a day for holy rest, then it is up to us to maintain it, to not allow the economic forces of our culture to dictate that our time is worth more than the sacred.

I get it. Work is essential, and what happens in the church and your life right now is critical. But let's be honest. Life can be like that loveable yet persistent character, Columbo, who always pops his head up and says, "Ah, one more thing!" There will always be "one more thing," but sooner or later, that one more thing will be the last thing. We need to consider if what we are doing is worth it and if the demands on our time, bodies, and hearts are worth it. Nothing is worth sacrificing our health and well-being for, especially if it ends up lining the pockets of unjust systems. So, how will you be intentional about your time? How will you take the opportunity presented in pastoral transition or changes in your life or the inspiration to be more intentional with your time to reconnect with the life-giving things that feed your soul? 

I hope you don't need to steal away in the night to find the rest you require. I pray that you consider ways to be intentional about your time. Take some time to pray, write/journal, go for a walk, or play an instrument; I encourage you to find something where you can unplug and re-envision what God is laying on your heart. There is always work to be done, but even God knows the value of rest. Jesus knows that we aren't going to get everything done before the sun sets; we see this as Jesus eventually moves on to the neighboring towns. So, let us not push ourselves to the extreme, somehow believing we will get things done if we ignore what our bodies and souls are telling us. 

In the face of life's relentless demands, let us embrace the wisdom woven into the fabric of creation—a wisdom that even God embodied. Our time is not a mere currency but a precious resource deserving of intentional consideration. As we navigate the delicate dance between work and rest, let us not overlook the sacred pauses that allow us to re-center, re-prioritize, and rediscover the essence of our calling. In the stillness of intentional rest, we find not only the strength to weather life's storms but also the clarity to discern what truly matters. As we strive to be faithful stewards of our time, may we, like Jesus, recognize the inherent value of a break—a divine pause that nurtures our souls and rejuvenates our spirits.