a day of rest

Here's our new thing:  resting on Sunday.

Not wanting to get into a big debate over whether it really was Sunday when God rested, I believe rest is something God intended, but something that not too many people -- including us -- observe, or really even give a second thought to.  And really, rest is what we're missing in our life, with time together being the second.

Ever since school started in August, I've felt extremely overwhelmed.  Sometimes I think I'm quite adjusted to CJ's work schedule, and then other days I'm not.  Add in working a full week at work, studying, small group on Sundays, a house to clean, family and friends to see, and oh yeah, a puppy, our plate is quite full.

Join the club, right?

Anyway, our current sermon series titled "Rechurch" and focuses on us trying to do too much in general -- in our lives and possibly in church too.  Last Sunday, we were charged with resting on Sunday, just like God did on the seventh day.  As Gary, our minister, pointed out, there's always work to do be done and the laundry and the dishes will still be there on Monday.  I can't explain just how much this resonated with us.

The biggest downside of taking Sunday off, I've discovered, is cramming everything in by Saturday.  Must give dog a bath.  Must vacuum.  Must squeeze in as much laundry as possible so I have something to wear to work on Monday morning.  Must study as much as possible.  So I'm really having to use some time management skills during the week.

I must admit though, once today came, it was wonderful.  Yeah, my accounting homework is calling my name.  There are still some dishes in the sink, and there's definitely several loads of laundry piled up.  Instead of getting frazzled about it all, I put it all aside and lounged around.  I caught up on tv shows I'd recorded and the blogs I'd bookmarked (thank goodness for google reader).  I read.  I watched the Colts earn another trip to the Super Bowl.

We still don't have this all figured out.  We don't plan to revert back to the time where you really didn't do anything on Sundays, so no worries there.  But if we stick with this, is it okay for me to do work if I feel like it?  If I allow myself to work, then will I slip back into life as before, where I felt like I could never take a break?  Further, I think the whole point of this is to rest and to spend time with God outside of the church walls.  And that's where I lack.

Tomorrow my blood pressure will be back up again and I'll be worried about my dirty house and the loads of accounting homework.  But as for tonight, none of that matters.