Episode 03: Finding Rest for Body, Mind, and Soul

03/29/22 • 34 min

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, "Come to me all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest." We're tired as individuals, as a community, as a nation in more ways than we even understand how to name. We're tired in body, mind, and soul. But as Jesus promised, rest is available to us. We don't have to live in a perpetual state of exhaustion. In this episode, we'll dive deeper into this topic of rest to discover how we can incorporate this necessary and healing practice into our lives.
Questions for Personal or Group Reflection
“What if Christians were known as the countercultural community of the well-rested? People who embrace our limits with zest and even joy?” Tish Harrison Warren, Liturgy of the Ordinary

Have you ever thought of the practice of rest as a way to trust God more and release control of being responsible for everything?
Susan shared her story of hitting a wall physically that led her to search for truer and deeper rest. Have you ever experienced anything like that?
How do you notice your body telling you that you aren’t resting enough?
How have you experienced unrest in your “mind”? (Overthinking, trying to problem-solve and fix-everything, working tirelessly mentally, anxious thoughts, etc...)
How have you experienced your body reacting when your mind is in a state of unrest?
Have you ever tried a breathing exercise, breath prayer, relaxation technique, or meditation practice to help you find rest? (You can access practices like these and other resources in Susan’s book, You’re Gonna Be Okay - link below.)

“Without the essential nutrients of rest, wisdom, and delight embedded in the problem-solving process itself, the solution we patch together is likely to be an obstacle to genuine relief... In the soil of the quick fix is the seed of a new problem because our quiet wisdom is unavailable.” Wayne Muller, Sabbath

We said soul rest is not just an individual activity found in “quiet time” with the Lord, but it’s also found when we meet with others and share and process our life experiences together. Do you have a space to do this type of soul work? If not, what would it take for you to find that type of community?

Resources:
Liturgy of the Ordinary, by Tish Harrison Warren

Sabbath: Finding Rest Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives, by Wayne Muller

You’re Gonna Be Okay: Truth, Practices, and Encouragement to Give You Hope When You Feel Hopeless, by Rev. Susan Eaton and Stewart Eaton, LPC, CSAT

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Embodied Holiness is a ministry of Parkway Heights United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg, MS. If you're in the Hattiesburg area and are looking for a church home, we'd love to meet you and welcome you to the family. You can find out more about Parkway Heights at our website.

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Have you ever thought of the practice of rest as a way to trust God more and release control of being responsible for everything?
Susan shared her story of hitting a wall physically that led her to search for truer and deeper rest. Have you ever experienced anything like that?
How do you notice your body telling you that you aren’t resting enough?
How have you experienced unrest in your “mind”? (Overthinking, trying to problem-solve and fix-everything, working tirelessly mentally, anxious thoughts, etc...)
How have you experienced your body reacting when your mind is in a state of unrest?
Have you ever tried a breathing exercise, breath prayer, relaxation technique, or meditation practice to help you find rest? (You can access practices like these and other resources in Susan’s book, You’re Gonna Be Okay - link below.)

Resources:
Liturgy of the Ordinary, by Tish Harrison Warren

Sabbath: Finding Rest Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives, by Wayne Muller

You’re Gonna Be Okay: Truth, Practices, and Encouragement to Give You Hope When You Feel Hopeless, by Rev. Susan Eaton and Stewart Eaton, LPC, CSAT

Previous Episode

Episode 02: Too Much Yes, Not Enough No - Losing Yourself in Your Calendar

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Do you ever feel like you're losing yourself in your calendar? Is your day-to-day life a series of checking off boxes but never quite getting caught up? Are you just too busy? In this episode we'll talk about how we can release ourselves from the slavery of busyness and live in a way that embraces margin and makes room for the holy.
Personal Reflection and Small Group Questions

“When I ask people how they are, what they are doing or creating with their life, how they are using their precious time, their heart’s best attention. Their response is invariably the same: I am just trying to get caught up... When I hear this now familiar refrain, I cannot help but ask gently, ‘Caught up to what?’”

“Our whirlwind of fearful rush and hurry saturates our days with the feeling that we are already somehow inexplicably behind before we ever make in out of the house, even before we get out of bed.”~Wayne Muller, A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough

Can you relate to the feeling of being behind or overwhelmed with everything you have to do before you even start your day? If so, can you name why that is?

Lindsey talked about being so busy at times that she felt like she was “losing herself in her calendar”? How have you experienced this?

We said that sometimes we can use busyness as an avoidance tactic (to avoid a difficult situation or relationship, to avoid stillness, to avoid self-reflection, etc.). Have you ever noticed yourself doing this?

Have you ever noticed that your busyness is a result of an attempt to prove you’re “enough” or a desire to achieve?

We said that work without rest is a big problem. How good are you at creating margin and rest into your days?

“Jesus lived a rhythm completely different from anyone around him. The rhythm of his life was itself a prophetic act against the rhythms of the world.” ~A.J. Swoboda, Subversive Sabbath

Have you ever considered the fact that Jesus always had full days and many things going on, but he never lost himself in that busyness?

How would you describe your pacing? Do you pay attention to your heart, mind, and soul and consider the pace they need instead of the pace in which your mind can keep up?

Self-Evaluation Questions:

Am I able to nurture my relationships? Is anyone in my sphere suffering in any way because of my busyness, my hectic way of living? (Spouse, children, friends, co-workers, etc.)
What is my body saying about how over-worked, overwhelmed, burned out I am?

Resources Mentioned:

A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough, by Wayne Muller

Subversive Sabbath

Next Episode

Episode 03, Part II: Practicing Rest with Special Guest Tammy Kolbo

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We all know we need more rest in our lives, but putting it into practice can be challenging for many of us. In the first half of this episode, Lindsey and Susan talk with Tammy Kolbo about her practice of rest. In the second half, Tammy leads us through a guided meditation designed to help you experience rest in body and mind.
ABOUT TAMMY:
A native Mississippian, Tammy Kolbo is the founder of The Yoga Room in Hattiesburg. Since 2001, Tammy has been studying, teaching and living yoga.

In classes, workshops and private sessions she integrates the art and science of yoga as an alternative and complementary method for health and healing - infusing joy, compassion and spirituality. A fitness enthusiast and instructor for over 39 years, she holds degrees in nursing and psychology. She is certified at the highest rank with Yoga Alliance and is an Internationally Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Tammy is also the creator of the Behavioral Health Yoga Therapy program at Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services in Hattiesburg. Through personally designed postural sequences, guided meditation and breathwork, she empowers patients to face each day with hope and courage. With a passion to educate and inspire, Tammy encourages her students to take the peace and freedom that yoga provides into their everyday lives.
Follow Tammy on Instagram @strengthandgraceyoga