Half term is approaching - and I pray you all get respite and rest.

The above is my favourite bit of Genesis - I love that God so loved rest and revered it that they built it into the fabric of time for generations of people.  We’ve sort of wandered away from allowing ourselves rest as a part of time; hustle culture and the pressures of what we just need to get done to keep going have become overwhelming.  But God stopped. God!  God factored into the very story of time rest.  That’s massive for me to think about.

Jesus stopped.  Jesus spent time alone, in prayer.  Often at crucial moments in his life, he just stopped.

As a Christian - I live my life in the inspiration of Christ; I remember to stop, pray, think - it doesn’t come naturally!

I’m also a Quaker - and our Advices & Queries, the absolute distillation of our faith, says this -

‘Every stage of our lives offers fresh opportunities. Responding to divine guidance, try to discern the right time to undertake or relinquish responsibilities without undue pride or guilt. Attend to what love requires of you, which may not be great busyness.’

Quaker Advices & Queries 28

Attend to what love requires of you - love for yourself included.

Rest is self care; in social activism, we encourage people to put the oxygen mask on themselves first, so that they can then help other people.  If we don’t do what love requires of us, and look after ourselves, we can’t fulfil our greatest gift - helping others.

Dr Saudra Dalton-Smith has described 7 types of rest - one of which is spiritual: ‘...the ability to connect beyond the physical and mental and feel a deep sense of belonging, love, acceptance and purpose. To receive this, engage in something greater than yourself and add prayer, meditation or community involvement to your daily routine.’

So try and rest, if you can.

from Ellen Cross, DBE Administrator