I’ve been taking naps lately. I used to nap a lot when I was younger, but have since gotten out of the habit – until now. I think some of it has to do with the letdown that has come with the end of the-year-like-no-other. Some of it has to do with my recalibration to a more extroverted, scheduled life. At first, I struggled with allowing these naps. In a way, I didn’t think I deserved them. I thought something like, “I’ve had a year of rest and introversion, which I have loved. Why do I need to nap? What’s wrong with me?” By now; however, I’ve stopped arguing with myself. I just set my alarm for about 20 or 30 minutes, and let myself conk out. It’s done wonders, especially for settling down those things on my mind that I just can’t quite figure out.
There’s a tweet-turned-meme out there that some of you may have seen:
It makes me giggle because it’s just so true. I love how plainly it reminds us that God knows us. God cares for us. God didn’t tell Elijah to suck it up or remind him of all the things that needed to get done. God offered embodied hospitality. This is my new favorite way to refer to self-care.
Some of us are lucky to have friends who can do this for us too. We have bad days – didn’t get enough sleep, overreacted to things we had gotten out of the habit of doing, or any number of things we could spend too much time listing here. These friends are like God to us. They know we are more than that one bad day. They encourage us to take a nap. Eat lunch. Walk around the block.
We often talk about how we are like God for others when we do this, but the same goes when we do this for ourselves. When we can practice self-care in these non-judgmental ways, we experience another aspect of God, something much like what God must experience within the relationship of the Trinity.
What ways have you noticed yourself needing, giving, and receiving embodied hospitality? In what ways have you encouraged embodied hospitality for others? How do you experience God in those moments?
Let's pray...
Sabbath God, the lesson of rest and embodied hospitality is written through all of your creation. Let us remember that you know us, care for us, and encourage us to care for ourselves as much as each other. Help us take time today to rest in you. Amen.
Casey Cross
Young Disciples Director
Hope Lutheran Church, Eagle, ID
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These are wise words. Thank you, Casey. I’m needing them these days.