REST.

This is me, maximizing my break time in the office by taking a good and deep nap.
Photo taken by my friend/ office mate during a weekday on December;
I got this from her IG story.

I am writing this blog because, finally, I can.

I was having my devotion yesterday and while doing so, the words that I read hit me hard. I decided to share them. I believe this is very relevant as all of us looked forward to this time of the year when we take a break from what we regularly do and spend some time with our love ones. Words in this blog are not purely mine, but also from the devotional materials that I used.

REST.

November - December 2019

 - I started a new audit project, which is also my last project for 2019. I used to do field work once to twice a week. Not easy of course, I'm not at the comfort of my seat. I have to carry my laptop, commute...well, not just the regular convenience and work scenario. Hirap pa pag umuulan tapos rush hour.

 - I have to stay longer in the office, two to three times a week, for the choir rehearsals (I am part of the corporate choir) since we will be singing in a lot of Christmas parties of our company this December.

 - Our department joined the decor competition in the office, we only do our decor after office hours. We stayed late to make a giant Christmas card and an explanation about such. We go home not earlier than 10PM. Then I have to wake up 5AM the following day for work.

 - I am part of the church music team line-up, twice a month. I have to study songs, memorize them, arrange keys, and lead the group. Rehearsals are every Saturday afternoon, and I sing in two worship services the following day.

 - Christmas parties! Seven in the office, four in the church, one in the family.

 - I joined two marathons: a 10KM and a 16KM run, two consecutive weeks. I wake up early on Saturdays to jog and prepare.
 - And the long list goes on...

Some events happen on the same day.

At some point in December, I got so tired.

When all these things were done, nasabi ko talaga sa sarili ko na "finally,  bakasyon na, makakapagpahinga na ako".

Too often we think that rest means we should be lazy. It means we can totally chill out at home and do absolutely nothing. While there may be an element of that in our restful times, that is not the whole story.

1. Rest is about recovery.

It is knowing when we are drained, exhausted, and need to breathe deeply for a while. It is knowing our limits and how we are handling the demands of daily lives. In order for our bodies to fully recover, we must receive abundant rest, which includes sleeping well at night.

It's hard to do multiple things at a time or simultaneously. As much as we want to be equally good in everything that we do, our body just can't. We have limited energy. Pag pagod ka na, magpahinga ka na. Kasi kung hindi, meron at merong masasakripisyo. 

Last December 1, a Sunday, and I have a marathon at 3AM, churchmates gathering at 11AM, and worship service and church duties at 3PM and 5PM, and a Christmas party at 7PM. Wala pa akong matinong tulog that week. Tapos that Sunday, I have to wake up 1AM to be on time at the marathon venue. I did well in my marathon naman but I got tired and my efficiency was dramatically reducing. Gusto ko yung mga ginagawa ko. All the things that I have to attend, I was eager to go to, kahit pagod ako. Pero di na ako naka-attend sa VG, minamalat na sko during the worship service, and half-awake na ako during the Christmas party. I wasn't able to give my best. Tapos sa mga sumunod na araw, hindi na ako productive sa trabaho.

Nagkaron ako ng mga "sana pala..." thoughts.

I realized that when you're tired, continuing is not very smart.

2. Rest is about refreshment.

It is learning what energizes us and what doesn't. It is choosing to incorporate activities that will bring refreshing times to our spirits. If we continue doing things that deplete us wen we be finding things that fill us, refreshment will never come. We must make more deposits into this bucket than withdrawals during our times of rest.

I though that being productive is being able to do a lot of things in a day. Pero sa dami ng ganap ko sa buhay, lagi akong pagod at bagsak na sa bahay. I wasn't able to do my daily devotions. Justifying my act by "sobrang busy ko lang talaga", naging excuse ko yung mga bagay-bagay to set aside my devotion, which is very very wrong.

3. Rest is about renewal.

It is experiencing a deep renewal in all parts of our lives. It is spending time with God so that we are spiritually made new.

While we may love to do certain things that refreshes us mentally we need our spirits refreshed by spending time with God each day. 

As vacation approached, I went back to my usual routine. I do my daily devotions again. And my devotion speak a lot to me.

I realized, it's okay to say NO.

It's okay to take a rest.

It's okay to do one thing at a time, one day at a time. Kung pagud na pagod ka na at pwede mo naman gawin mamaya, bukas, next week, next time, next month, o next year, you may do so. Ang difference lang naman nila, eh TIMING But always ask God's intervention in your decision.

4. Fill Up To Pour Out

The reason we need rest is because we have been working or exerting energy in some way. And just because we learn how to rest and may feel rested, doesn't mean we will stay that way. We rest and get rest so that we can work again. There is a beautiful ebb and flow of working and resting; and being filled up so that we can pour out.

Meditating on God's word and disconnecting from things that distract us are practices that fill us back up, we find rest as we do these daily. Just like our physical bodies need ample hours each night to recover, our spirits do as well. We can't have a strong vibrant spirits without investing in them.

We wake up each day with a certain amount of mental, emotional, and physical energy. When we have poured out everything we have to give, we must rest. When we are in this state, there is less of us to get in the way of His work in our lives.

Lean in, be still, and rest. Don't be too hard on yourself, magpahinga ka din. This is the most opportune and appropriate time to be filled up with God's spirit.

Xo,