When the fast-paced pressures of life start to feel overwhelming, that's when it's crucial to find time to rest, even if it feels 'uncomfortable' to slow down.
For Tara, autumn meant busy days were ahead. Finding time to rest would be a luxury. Though she was partly relieved the kids were back in school, it also meant a more demanding schedule. Her son, Nick, had soccer practice and her daughter, Molly, had taken up swimming. There were also piano lessons and then tutoring. She and her husband Tom were much overdue for a date night. It was also the last quarter to prove her performance for the year at work. And the icing on the cake— their church just asked her to participate in the fall festival's bake sale. The festival signaled the holidays were just around the corner. Tara worried about the endless gatherings with endless food. What was the point of getting in shape?
SOOO TIRED, BUT WOUND UP... RUNNING ON OVERDRIVE
“C’mon Tara, just one more!”
Tara’s personal trainer, Caitlin, pushed her just enough to get a good workout without it becoming one more thing to stress over. Tara could only afford time to train once a week, but she looked forward to each session. It was her hour. Even if it had to be 5:00AM Monday mornings. This time of year, the workouts became her penance for stress eating from the previous weekend.
Tara, mid-pushup, struggled to finish her rep. She finally plopped back down like sack of potatoes. “Everything seems so hard today. And my neck and shoulders feel tense.”
Caitlin tilted her head with empathetic eyes. “Did you not get good sleep last night?”
Tara shook her head. “I feel soooo tired but wound up at the same time. When my body finally gets time to rest, my brain is still running on overdrive.”
Caitlin had been training Tara for almost a year and noticed her workouts were beginning to fall flat. She wasn’t as energized and wasn’t progressing. She knew Tara had a habit of always saying ‘yes’ to everything and everyone, especially during the holidays, which left her nervous system depleted.
GUILTLESS REST
The two went to the same church and they’d often discuss the sermon from that Sunday during Tara’s session.
“Remember what Pastor Philip taught on Sunday about what Jesus said? ‘Come unto me all that are weary and I will give you rest?’” Caitlin hoped to not sound too preachy. “And I just read a research study where regular prayer time can stimulate your vagus nerve or the control center for the ‘rest and digest’ part of your nervous system. It helps regulate stress, blood pressure and releases good hormones like serotonin.”
Regular prayer time can stimulate your vagus nerve or the control center for the ‘rest and digest’ part of your nervous system
Tara covered her face with her hands. “Anytime I try to rest, I feel guilty and uncomfortable. There’s just too much to do.” She sighed. “What I wouldn’t give to have a guilt-free hour of peace and quiet.”
Caitlin placed her hand on Tara’s shoulder. “We both know someone who had the whole world on his shoulders, but even he would find time to rest."
Tara nodded with a deep sigh. “I’ll try to do better next week.” Then she glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to go. I’m carpooling Nick’s classmates today.”
Suddenly, an idea came to Caitlin. “For next week, would you be able to spare an extra twenty minutes or so? I was hoping to film some of your workout for my Instagram.”
Tara felt the tension building around her neck and shoulders as it usually did when she felt overwhelmed. Did Caitlin hear anything I just said? How I felt like I had no time for anything, even prayer. “Sure, okay. I could ask Tom to get the kids ready for school. But no more than half an hour.”
Caitlin produced a wide grin. “Thank you, Tara. See you next week.”
NOT YOUR TYPICAL TRAINING SESSION
The week came and went as swiftly as it usually did between work, kids’ activities, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, church. And it was once again Monday at 5:00 AM. As the season was heading deeper into late autumn, the sun was nowhere to be seen at this hour, and a crisp chill was in the air. Tara trudged toward Caitlin’s workout studio from the parking lot, slightly annoyed. A familiar voice stopped her.
“Hey Tara!" Caitlin called from the lowered window of her SUV. "Hop in.”
Tara furrowed her brow, perplexed. “Where are we going? Is this for your Instagram?”
Caitlin shook her head. "No social media today." Then she winked. “It’s a surprise.”
Tara got in the passenger side of the car and Caitlin made her way to one of their town’s back country roads. For about fifteen minutes, she winded up a hill bordered by various trees. The descending moon lit their leaves, revealing their various changes in color as they faithfully did each fall. Eventually they came to an overlook with a sunrise view of the lake. Caitlin put her SUV in park and jumped out of the driver’s seat. She grabbed two yoga mats from the trunk.
Watch the sunrise and talk with God...
BE STILL...
Tara got out of the passenger side. “Are we doing a workout here??”
Caitlin shook her head 'no' as she rolled out each mat on the dirt ground that faced east. “Recovery day. Just be still, watch the sunrise and talk with God. Didn’t you say you wanted some time of peace?”
Tara nodded and smiled at her friend. “Thank you.”
SO UNCOMFORTABLE...YET WONDERFUL
They each took their place on the mat. The occasional bird would chirp their morning song with the percussion of the rustle of the trees from the gentle breeze. Soaking it all in, Tara asked God to help her make more time to rest and for prayer.
As the sun broke through the horizon, an art show of brilliant yellows and oranges reflected off the water. Tara had a couple tears fall down her cheek. “Being still, finding time to rest, this is still so uncomfortable… yet wonderful.”
QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION AND GROUP DISCUSSION:
- Do you find it uncomfortable to slow down? Why do you think that is?
- What’s your go-to method to rest and unwind?
- How do you feel after you have quiet time?
- Why do you think Tara found it so difficult to rest? Do you relate?
- Sometimes things start off as uncomfortable until they become a habit. How can you make it a habit to prioritize rest / prayer/ quiet time?
DIG DEEPER
This article is one of many in our Gymnos department. Gymnos is the Greek origin of our modern-day word Gym. It means “naked.” GYMNOS articles in Faith & Fitness Magazine are designed to help you ask God to challenge your thinking. In the literal sense, when you’re naked in the locker room there is nothing to hide. That makes most people uncomfortable. Use this scenario to get naked spiritually—be honest, transparent, undisguised and willing to be totally open with yourself and others. In this article, Tara, Caitlin and all characters in this scenario are fictional. Any similarity to an actual person is coincidental.
