BookPastor >> "Rhythms of Rest" (Shelly Miller)

This review was first published at Panorama of a Book Saint on Jan 9th, 2017.

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TITLE: Rhythms of Rest: Finding the Spirit of Sabbath in a Busy World
AUTHOR: Shelly Miller
PUBLISHER: Bloomington, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2016, (224 pages).

A lot have already been written about the Sabbath but the need far outstrips the supply. What is the Sabbath? What makes this book unique compared to the other books? For author Shelly Miller, the first thing with regard to taking a rest is her mantra: "I Don't Do Guilt." There is no need to be guilty about taking a day off per week, or to rest where needed. Sabbath rest is about receiving a gift and not an excuse for guilt. While the world teaches us to rely on ourselves and our own abilities, taking a rest is in effect an acknowledgement that things will take care of themselves even as we rest. It requires surrender and deep trust. The way forward is not simply an obligation to force a weekly sabbath but to joyfully discover rhythms in which we can rest well. Sabbath is a gift. It is a reflection of God's creativity. It is an opportunity for us to demonstrate to others that rest is not only possible, it is beneficial. Miller goes beyond simply taking a break. Sabbath is a time in which we commune with God in an intentional space. It is an invitation to intimate conversation, unhurried by the hustle and bustle of the world. It is a way in which we say to the world: "You shall have no hold on me."

While the benefits are many, there are also myths and deceptions that threaten to derail our pursuit of Sabbath rest. That is why Miller spends time dispelling myths like doing Church as a form of Sabbath. She writes:

Midweek Meditation: Difference Between "Busyness" and "Being Hurried"

"Being busy is an outward condition, a condition of the body. It occurs when we have many things to do. Busyness is inevitable in modern culture. If you are alive today in North America, you are a busy person. There are limits to how much busyness we can tolerate, so we wisely find ways to slow down whenever we can. We take vacations, we site in a La-Z-Boy with a good book, we enjoy a leisurely meal with friends. By itself busyness is not lethal.

Being hurried is an inner condition, a condition of the soul. It means to be so preoccupied with myself and my life that I am unable to be fully present with God, with myself, and with other people. I am unable to occupy this present moment. Busyness migrates to hurry when we let it squeeze God out of our lives."

(John Ortberg, Soul Keeping, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014, p134)

Midweek Meditation: Are You Too Busy?

For this midweek meditation, I like to invite us to reflect on the following twelve questions to diagnose ourselves. The list is taken from Tim Chester's book, "The Busy Christian's Guide to Busyness." I like us to ask ourselves this question: Are we too busy for our own good?

1. Do you check work emails and phone messages at home?
2. Has anyone said to you: “I didn’t want to trouble you because I know how busy you are”?
3. Do your family and friends complain about not getting time with you?
4. If tomorrow evening was unexpectedly freed up, would you use it to work or do a household chore?
5. Do you often feel tired during the day, neck and shoulders aching?
6. Do you often exceed the speed limit while driving?
7. Do you have enough time to pray?
8. Do you have a hobby in which you are actively involved?
9. Do you eat together as a family or household at least once a day?

If you mainly answered ‘yes’ to questions 1-6 and ‘no’ to questions 7-9, you may have a busyness problem.


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