Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill and The Rev. Lynn Finnegan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By DEACON AMY SCHMUCK
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
One of my favorite memes online describes how we feel in this “week between” the holidays of Christmas and New Year’s day as “Confused and Full of Cheese”. (See image)
I am here to encourage you in this week of continued festivities, days off from work, family and friend gatherings, and yes- more church services upon us, that you live into a prolonged sabbath rest as you are able. In my first article for this column, I wrote about the importance of the spiritual practice of taking a Sabbath, or a “Holy Rest” in our Christian lives, and I referenced a book I had begun reading by the founder of an awesome movement called “The Nap Ministry”, Tricia Hersey. The book is called Rest is Resistance and as the author suggests, we can and may certainly see our holiday “days off” get hijacked away from a much deserved and necessary rest!
Ms. Hersey’s recommendation to get through the extended holiday hub-bub with a proper rest protected is to stick to these five principles (with my own commentary).
- Set (and keep) Boundaries. This is your time to spend and you should feel empowered to limit time spent with people who drain your energy as well as tasks that do the same.
- Create a Routine. Set aside a time of day that works for you to give you some time of silence, alone time, a time to think, a time to dream, to pray, or a blessed and holy time to nap!
- Delegate tasks. Hand over with trust some of the mundane tasks of hosting, communicating, creating, cleaning, cooking, baking to others in your life. You do NOT have to do it ALL, nor should you!
- Unplug from Social Media. This is particularly important to not allow comparison to be a “thief of joy” in this season. If anyone out there is projecting a “perfect holiday” they are simply selling you false goods. There is no such thing that imperfect humans could achieve. Live into some of your own “blessed messiness” this season and keep a thoughtful joy central to your time.
- Practice Self-Compassion. This is of utmost importance dear ones, especially if this year has brought loss, grief, hardship, illness, or family discord to your life. The holiday season and all its pressures and trappings can feel oppressive and like “something to hide from”. If that is what your brain, body and soul need to do- do it. Take good care of yourself and heal. Jesus is still born, God is still in charge, and you may certainly take the time to tend your own woundedness.
Why did I choose to focus on Sabbath rest in this week’s article you may ask? As a minister leading a congregation through Advent and Christmas, I bore witness to the way some people expressed a very great amount of stress over the responsibilities of the upcoming holiday. I heard high anxiety in their listing of all the tasks and stresses before them to “be ready” for Christmas, and not one single thing they listed had anything to do with the work of Christmas. What do I mean by the “work of Christmas?” you may wonder? This is our response to the work God began through the sending of Jesus or when “Love Came Down” as the carol sings. It is God’s work, yes. However, we join this work with God in our response to this love. Howard Thurman’s poem “The Work of Christmas” says it best:
“The Work of Christmas”
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
Howard Thurman, 1985
Published in The Mood of Christmas p. 23
May we stay “confused and full of cheese” just a little longer, dear ones. Let us be well rested, play the silly board games, share the pie, take the couch naps, and gaze at the sky. Be kind to yourselves and stay full of wonder. May God’s Christmas work continue to change and shape all our hearts in the coming year. God’s peace be with you and be brought to light to the world. Amen.
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a column written by local women clergy including The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (momaryannhill@gmail.com); The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, Associate Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org); Deacon Amy Schmuck, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (deaconamy@bethluth.com); and ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com).