To Sleep, Perchance to Dream—Shakespeare; Hamlet III 65-68

Recently, I came across an article analyzing sleep patterns of Americans. Americans, it seems, are getting less sleep, averaging around six-and-a-half hours a night, considerably less than the doctor-recommended eight hours of shut-eye. In fact, our attitude towards sleep has significantly altered. Instead of viewing it as a necessity, sleep is now perceived to be a luxury. And in our full and hectic lives, sufficient sleep is one of the first things to be sacrificed.

At this time, when sleep is suffering, I feel it is important to show my support. I stand up for sleep. Or rather, I lay down for. I support sleep. This leads me to naps.

In my mind, naps are one of the most blissful things ever. I feel that I would be a better person if only I were able to nap more (both in frequency and duration). I would be a nicer person as a result of all that rest. A rested and refreshed me would make me a better worker; new ideas could percolate and develop—my company would reap the rewards. Naps would make me a better person, ergo, naps would make the world a better place.

We napped in pre-school and kindergarten. In addition to being assigned a cubby for our papers and crayons, we were assigned a cot and a corner of the classroom. Each day, the lights were dimmed, gentle music was played, and rows of cots were lined up (far enough from your neighbor to discourage any talking or poking). Each child clambered onto his or her cot for “quiet time”. And if you were feeling particularly restless, the teacher would sit beside you and rub your head. It took about two minutes of head-rubbing before a fidgety child would relax, settle down, and melt into the cot for an hour’s sleep. Later, the lights would be turned up, wake-up music would play, cots would be stacked and snack would be served. Those were the days.

Other nations and cultures still embrace napping. Do you know who the biggest nappers are? The Germans! We marvel at their excellent engineering and efficiency—could it be the result of sufficient rest and rejuvenation? Then there is the siesta or reposa- a most beautiful concept. Close the shop, leave the office. Have a proper lunch with family and friends (rather than eating hurriedly over your desk), have a little rest, and return to work for round two of the day. To me, this seems brilliant.

But there is a larger issue at play here. It is more that just napping. We have forgotten how to rest.

When the government decided to turn Col. Steve Austin into the $6 Million Man, the mantra was, “Better, Stronger, Faster”. As a culture, Americans have taken this to heart. And this sense of urgency has not only usurped naps, but rest as well. Working 9 to 5 has now become 8:15 to half past six (plus taking work home and reading the BlackBerry). Free time fills will programmed activity- from toddlers to retirees: Gymboree, soccer, piano lessons, SAT prep, swim team, scouts, walking the dog and yoga. Rest! Who has time for rest?

It is not insignificant that God the Creator rested on the seventh day. It was not because he was tired after all that creating (as I thought when I was small). He rested to set a precedent, to be example to those whom He created. He did not need to be busy for busyness’ sake alone. Nor do we. He rested. He looked around at what he had done, what he had made: heaven and earth; light and darkness; land and sea; flowers, trees, sun, moon, all kinds of creatures; and man. God chose to rest.

We have the same choice before us. We can chose to be busy, to fills our days with activities, work, chores, and duties. And to some extent, we must be busy—there are tasks necessitated by our various responsibilities. But we can also choose to rest. To break away from life and really live- ironically living by not doing. This is modeled in the Hebrew Sabbath. Understanding that this would be difficult, God provided clear guidelines as to what was and what was not doable. The principle was God’s command, the purpose was to rest, and the result was rejuvenated life- for family and work.

In Psalm 46, we are told, “Be still and know that I AM God.” The power of that statement ever impresses me. It seems so counterintuitive that something so simple should be so difficult. Yet it is. Be still. Stop. Take a break. Don’t do something. Hush. And in that stillness comes understanding. Of God. Who He is and who were are in relation to Him. Comprehension of why we are here and compassion for those whom we are with.

This is rest. Be Still.