Rest as Resistance

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Lord,

Thank you for the invitation to rest.

Thank you for the promise of rest.

Thank you for creating space for rest, the 7th day, Sabbath.

Everyday contains a little Sabbath, 

a rest, a resistance to the enslavement of pharaoh,

the enslavement to produce brick upon brick

for my worth to be determined by how much I produce.

Rest, a nap, a night's sleep, a daily moment of Sabbath,

is a reminder that my worth is defined by you, O God,

who made me a masterpiece (from the Greek poema, in Ephesians 2:10).

So Lord, for the next few minutes,

I accept your invitation to
"Come away... and rest a while.” (see Mark 6:31)

I welcome your rest for my mind, body, and soul.

Amen.

_________________

The above prayer was inspired by:

The Nap Ministry Manifesto (see: https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/)

The doors of the Nap Temple are open.
Won’t you come?

This is an invitation for weary souls to rest.
This is a resistance.
This is a protest.
This is counter narrative to the lie that we all aren’t doing enough.
We are enough.

The doors of the Nap Temple are open.
Won’t you come?

This is counter narrative to the lie that our worth is tied to the grind of capitalism.
You are enough simply by being alive.
Thank you for living.
Thank you for resisting.
Thank you for creating.
Thank you for loving

The doors of the Nap Temple are open.
Won’t you come?