Reflection Process
“Rest is anything that connects your body and mind.”
–THE NAP MINISTRY
Drawing from what each of the authors offered, below are questions for reflection to draw each of us deeper into considering the reality of rest in our lives and how we might more readily make space for rest. We can each consider our practices, but unless we reflect on their implications at the communal and systemic level, a culture of rest will never take hold.
Individual
Communal
nnWhat practices of rest are most
nnWhat can we learn from various
nnAmidst the contraction and expansion of life, how can you discover God in the sacred space of rest?
nnWhat images of God do we encounter, preach, or promote that might need reconsidering due to how they promote a culture of needless suffering or glorification of exhaustion?
life-giving for you? Could cooking or something drawn from your cultural practices offer refuge?
nnDo you benefit from able-bodied
privilege? How does that impact the way you move through the world, how you interact with others, and what biases you might carry?
nnHow can you build rest more
intentionally into your life, modeling it after the sacred rest of shabbat?
nnAre you getting enough sleep? How can you prioritize sleep given your schedule and lifestyle?
cultural practices and wisdom, and the models they offer for resting?
nnHow do we build, embrace, and encourage a culture of rest? In our communities of worship? Workplaces? Homes?
nnDo the physical spaces we occupy
welcome folks regardless of ability? What changes might be made to be more inclusive and welcoming?
nnHow are we making space for
people to name their needs, identify challenges, and offer support so people can rest when they need to?
nnWhat would a ritual of rest in our community look like?
nnHow can we help one another sleep better?
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Systemic nnHow can we challenge “grind culture” and glorification of exhaustion?
nnHow does our theology need to
embrace the space of rest more deeply, drawing from the modeling of rest in our universe?
nnWhat are the policies and laws that prevent folks with disabilities from participating fully in society?
nnGiven the disparities in sleep,
what are the social structures that contribute to lack of access to sleep? Forty hour work weeks? Lack of access to healthcare? Low wages? Paid family leave?