Busy RestingSample

Rest Your Eyes

When I think back on the Sundays of my childhood, the afternoon rest period led to lots of giggling and very often a good hiding. When my father eventually gave up on his well-earned nap, my siblings and I knew we had to run fast and far.

Sleeping may be the ultimate form of rest, but few people enjoy spending a whole day in bed. Even an uncontrolled afternoon nap often leaves me feeling groggy and far from refreshed. But there are other ways to rest our eyes on our weekly day of refreshment.

In Psalm 23, David tells us how the Lord brings him to a state of complete peace and rest. And right at the beginning, he tells us what he sees around him. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows.” (v. 2) No ancient-style gray buildings. No hot and tired dust. David’s eyes are instantly refreshed when they look at the beautiful surroundings.

To rest our eyes, we need to give them a break from what they need to look at the rest of the week. In my case, my eyes work very hard looking at a computer screen, a telephone screen, and lots of academic and communicative information most of the week. So on my rest day, I change their exposure levels and refresh them with something else to look at. For the whole day.

Instead of scrolling on the phone, why not read a hardcopy feel-good fiction book? Instead of spending your day on the computer, would it be possible to only attend to work emergencies that cannot wait until the next day? Instead of noticing all the cupboards and floors that need cleaning, just sit outside and look at the trees and the birds. And in this suburban green meadow, you can rest your eyes.

Do you feel exhausted from seeing the same old thing in front of you every day? How can you build a day of rest for your eyes into your week?

Let us allow the Lord to lead us to green meadows where our eyes can be refreshed. And let’s find peace and joy in the beautiful things He provided around us. “So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest.” (Hebrews 4:9-11)