I have a great deal in common with my favourite Red Pandas. My hair colour used to match… I have more white hairs now, but I’m still cute! We both like fruit. Most of all, we like sleeping. Funny thing about age: it becomes easier to sleep in the day, and harder to sleep through the night.
Red Pandas are fantastic climbers (I’m not) and spend hours of their day asleep in the most uncomfortable places up in their chosen tree.
Sleeping, eating, looking cute, and a bit of exercise climbing trees. Not a bad way to live.
I wonder if this is a good blueprint for a contented life? Certainly, this describes the first few weeks of retirement. Then comes the list of things to do (thank you, dear) and the search for worthwhile stuff that gives a sense of purpose. Getting that “life-balance” right matters, and hopefully means that the sleeping opportunities are a positive part of living instead of a waste of precious hours.
Pandas (Red or ordinary) can sleep sweetly without worrying. Human beings are expected to be more than a bedbug or couch potato.
Jesus told a parable of a wealthy Master who gave three servants money: one had 10,000, one had 5,000, and the last had only one. The first servant doubled his stake, so did the second. But the third servant had dug a hole to hide the money (and not risk losing it!) and just gave the (muddy) coin back to the boss. The wealthy Master was NOT delighted… read the whole story in Matthew 25:14-30.
We are accountable for the use we make of our time, and talents, and resources.
We are responsible for resting properly whenever circumstances allow. Sleep that comes out of a well-lived life will be sweeter than any other sleep. So, over-working isn’t good and neither is slacking. The benefits of being properly rested are physical, mental, and spiritual. In order to be sensitive to the Lord’s guidance we need to be able to function effectively. It is about loving ourself- for if we are to love our neighbour (let alone our enemies!) as Christ commands, we must recharge our own batteries.
Society (and Church) have fallen into dangerous patterns of stressful overwork, and have also slipped into a horrible habit of RUSHING. No wonder mental health and stress are serious problems in our impoverished ways of being.
Matthew 11:28-30 has a superb translation in the “Message.” Key words are “the unforced rhythms of grace.” Doesn’t that sound like a perfect balance in life?
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
The Reflectionary 