Unplug and Unwind: Why You Need to Prioritize Soul Rest

Blog by Gem Fadling

Right now, Alan and I are in the first week of our July mini-sabbatical. Every year, for one month, we remove ourselves from work and make space to deeply rest our hearts, minds, and bodies. We check no email. We scroll no social media. We don’t “talk shop.”

We let the soil of our ministry and work life lie fallow so it has the chance to rest. This fortifies us to continue the work we do. Trees and orchards cannot produce forever if they do not rest and receive a good pruning in the proper season.

This year will be slightly different in that we will use half of July for deep work in content development (much like an academic takes a study sabbatical) and the other half for deep rest with friends and family.

I wanted to share with you my journal from exactly three years ago. It’s from July 3, 2021, our very first mini-sabbatical. We traveled to Orcas Island in Washington our first week, hoping for some soul rest, and we definitely found it.

Here is my journal entry from that day:

Pine scent. Surrounded by trees. The loam. Fallen trees decaying. Moss. The sound of water. Nature bath at its best. We paused in a circle of trees and sang the doxology. I cried.

I didn't take a photo of that moment, but I know the image of the sun peeking through will be emblazoned in my memory. So much goodness. So many shades of green and brown. Textures both soft and hard. Water cascading over rocks and into streams.

No words to describe. Just gratitude.

We then drove to the top of Mount Constitution. Staggering views all the way to Canada, Mount Baker, and Mount Rainier.

I saw a bird I'd never seen before, the violet green swallow. They flew below us and we could see their bright green backs glistening in the sun. Plus so many dragonflies! And more rich pine scent.

Thank you, God, for such beautiful creation! The rest of the day was for rest—napping, reading, and coloring. I'm now sitting at a desk, looking out the window and enjoying the large robins hopping around on the grass below.

It sounds idyllic, and it was. The beauty of nature was overwhelming in its abundance.

I share this with you because I hope to inspire you to make space on your calendar for connecting with God in ways that are life-giving to you. You may not enjoy the outdoors like I do, but you likely have a mode or a location that is conducive to helping you sense God’s presence.

Some of you have a healthy rhythm of life that includes these kinds of replenishing spaces.

Remember, you don’t need a whole month to achieve some inner rest. I have found peace by simply sitting in my backyard for an hour. I set up my beach chair and picnic blanket on the grass while the sun beats down on my back. I read or journal, and my heart settles. You don’t have to have days, weeks, or months. You can rescue 30-60 minutes on any given weekend and practice soul rest.

Why do Alan and I talk about this so much? Because we believe with all our heart that your inner life with God deeply informs your outer life of relationships and work.

We have found that most people are tired in some form. It may show up as physical ailments, racing mind, exhaustion, growing anxiety, uncontrollable distraction, and more.

So we beat the drum that reminds us: 

• Time is not your boss.
• You can make time for what is important.
• Make space for life-giving activities.
• Solitude and silence can replenish you.
• Soul space and physical rest are critical for your ongoing health and maturity.
• An unhurried life is possible. (Remember—busy is calendar, hurry is soul.)

When we talk about our mini-sabbatical, I know some people think to themselves any number of thoughts: 

• Must be nice.
• Such a luxury.
• I wish I could do that.
• I could never make that kind of space in my life.
• What a waste of time. You can’t be unproductive for that long.

And I hear it. We didn’t make space for an entire month per year until just a few years ago. And it does seem impossible, especially if you are in the child-rearing season or you work for a company that doesn’t allow such things.

I’m not here to tell you to do anything that doesn’t work in your current life stage.

I do, however, want to ask a few questions: 

• How deep is the well you want to draw from?
• Do you want to experience the “much fruit that lasts” that Jesus speaks of in John 15?
• How expansive do you want to be?
• What are you willing to do so that you can be who you want to be?

You don’t have to take an entire month away to access this place inside yourself. Remember my backyard time? Any kind of space made to receive from God creates space inside you. And this space becomes a reservoir from which you can draw when you most need it. It is the small, consistent investments you make that pay the most dividends.

I will beat this drum for as long as it takes because our culture is screaming at you from all sides: 

• Be more productive!
• Get going!
• You don’t have time for this! Keep moving!
• You have to push your way forward!
• Here are a multitude of ways to distract yourself. Enjoy them all!
• This is all on your shoulders!

Our world needs more people who are focused, centered, peaceful, and wise. And it doesn’t matter your temperament. Introverts and extroverts alike can display these qualities. The fruit of the Spirit is graciously given: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Reflection 

• Sometime in the next two weeks, block off 30-60 minutes in your calendar. Engage something life-giving, something that brings you joy, delight, or rest. Prioritize it the way you would keep a doctor’s appointment.
• And if you like how it feels, look into your calendar and block off more space to engage again. Create patterns of refueling in your life.