Time Well Spent Part 6
February 6, 2026
Time Well Spent Part 6
There is much to be said for rest. In truth, rest may be one of the most fruitful ways we spend our time. Constant activity pulls us into a whirlwind of doing, but rest draws us out of that vortex. It releases us from relentless distractions, deadlines, worries, pursuits of our desires, and mental preoccupations. In rest, our emotions settle, and our bodies remember ease.
For those who thrive on high levels of activity, rest can feel especially challenging. And many of us do not place a premium on rest because it seems to take time away from what we value. For some, time is money; for others, time is pleasure or productivity. For some people, time is spent sleepwalking. Rest appears unproductive or irrelevant by these measures, so it is postponed, neglected, or even denied. Yet the recovery that rest provides is essential.
But rest offers more than recovery. It provides something most other activities cannot: space to receive what arrives only in its stillness. In quiet rest, impressions, realizations, and insights arise from the soul. These moments of inner listening are essential to our sense of harmony.
Without connection to the soul’s longings, we remain estranged from our true nature. When we live primarily from the ego, we may be connected to its energy, thoughts, fears, and desires, yet disconnected from our deeper needs. The ego alone cannot provide the inner peace and coherence that comes from a living connection to the soul.
In stillness, we become present, and presence creates transparency to our depths. As we settle into presence, truth emerges, not from effort or striving, but from within the soul itself.
Rest gives us time to “come to ourselves.” Jesus uses this phrase in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32.) Having squandered his inheritance and found himself in a pigsty, the prodigal experiences a moment of “coming to himself.” This is an awakening, a return to himself that leads to the coming of direction. This is self-remembering.
Coming to ourselves can take many forms. We may suddenly understand a pattern, recognize the source of a reaction, receive clarity at a crossroads, or discover how to meet a person or situation with greater wisdom. We may realize a part of ourselves that needs forgiving and attention. Sometimes we uncover a new desire, a new idea, or an invitation into unexplored territory. In constant activity and routine, we skim the surface … there is little time for doing anything else. But rest gently takes us deeper.
The gifts of rest are always available, yet they require receptivity. In the rest, the ego loosens its grip. Its judgments are quiet, its narratives soften, and the soul is finally given room to speak.
Spiritual practice: In your next break, notice how your mind quiets and how you can listen more closely to the still, small voice.
Self-inquiry: What about rest seems to have bad connotations for you?
Prayer:
Dear God, For everything else you give me, I am so grateful. Please give me the will to take more rest so I can listen more closely to your voice of love. Amen
