Tireless Rest: Why we Need to Stop all the Hurry and Put Energy into Rest. (with thoughts from The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer)

In November of 2020 (the close of a very difficult year across the globe), I read one of the most impactful books I’ve ever encountered: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. Now, I’ve read a lot of great books over the years and have no doubt been shaped by many of them, but this book was life changing. I do not say that hyperbolically – the book literally changed the way I live.

Comer opens with some staggering examples of how “hurry” (living at breakneck speeds with no margin and no break from the constant consumption of information) has infiltrated our culture. He says, “Hurry kills relationships, love takes time; hurry doesn’t have it… it kills joy, gratitude, appreciation… it kills wisdom; wisdom is born in the quiet, the slow.” These are not things we want to live without.

Comer is a Jesus-follower and a pastor, and he points to the life of Jesus as the solution to this problem. Even if you don’t consider yourself a Jesus-follower, Jesus’ life gives us practices we can apply to make strides against hurry and its devastating effects.

Based on the life and teachings of Jesus, Comer presents four practices for “unhurrying” your life:

1) Silence & Solitude

2) Simplicity

3) Slowing

4) Sabbath 

Here a few ways I’ve applied these practices over the years:

1) Silence & Solitude

I start each day in the same chair with a hot cup of coffee, my Bible or a book, and my notebook. (Oh! And a handy little reading light that attaches to my book so my presence in the living room doesn’t wake the toddlers). I breathe. I quiet my mind and set my intention for the day. I read a psalm and a gospel story – slowly. Not to study, not to check it off some list but because I need it.  I listen. I process. Feel. Settle. Wonder. 

Sounds a little mystical, but it’s really quite simple. And I can tell when it’s been missing for a few days. 

2) Simplicity

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” (William Morris) 

This immediately became a rule of thumb in my house. Simplicity is perhaps always a work in progress, but this guideline helped me find balance where it was once lacking.

Morris’ quote also sparked an annual habit. Every year after Christmas I go through every drawer, closet, and corner of my house eliminating anything that has not been used (or worn) or is taking up more space than it’s worth. (Warning: Some discernment required! The first time I did this I was 7 months pregnant (was I “nesting”?) and ended up getting rid of more than I probably needed to.)

3) Slowing

“Cultivating patience by deliberately choosing to place ourselves in positions where we simply have to wait.” (John Ortberg) I hated this at first, but it made a profound difference in my life and my heart rate. Here are some crazy ideas. Try one for a week and see what you think:

1. Drive the speed limit. Make full stops. (This is WAY harder than you think!)

2. Show up to appointments 10 minutes early without your phone.

3. Get in the longer checkout line…without your phone. Absolutely, revolutionary. (Not necessarily recommended with toddlers in tow).

4. Turn your smartphone into a dumb phone (seeing a pattern yet?). 

5. Put your phone to bed before you, and make it sleep in.

6. Single task. Studies show we aren’t capable of multi-tasking anyway (and task-switching is no less exhausting and no more effective).

4) Sabbath 

Sabbath is an ancient Jewish practice patterned after the belief God made the world in six days, then He rested on the seventh day.

Was God merely setting a precedent – creating a rhythm of work and rest for us – or was it more? God rested. He didn’t need rest, He’s God! His rest is what we might call “Tireless Rest.”  We know what it’s like to work when tired, but do we know what it feels like to rest when we aren’t? What would it look like to put energy into rest?! That is tireless rest. Choosing not to wait until we need it. 

It's similar to thirst. If we become aware of feeling thirsty, we may already be dehydrated. When we feel tired our bodies and minds are signaling the need for rest. Our culture would have us ignore the warning signs. But is it really worth it?

Here’s the really fun part of starting a sabbath practice… Ask yourself this question: what could I do for 24 hours that would fill my soul with deep joy and gratitude?

For me, that looks like spending undistracted time with my family or having a meal with friends. It’s taking a long walk or getting lost in a book. It’s music, or a puzzle with a cup of tea. You get the idea. So go ahead, mark the calendar as soon as you can. Block out even a few hours. It’s not legalistic, its life-giving. Maybe even life changing.