REV. JENNIFER INNIS

Of all the words, experiences and conversations of the past year, the word that resonates the most is depletion. Simply saying, “I feel depleted,” in a phone call or a video meeting results in nods and agreement from across the line or on the screen. The politics, the elections, the conflicts around race, economics and health care, and the deadly impact of climate change have drained us as a society. And then there is the terrible impact of the pandemic. The disease and the search for treatment and vaccinations have cost so much in lives and resources. Our differences and disagreements in response to the pandemic have taken their toll on us, too. “Exhaustion” doesn’t quite say enough. “Drained” comes close. “Depleted” accounts for yesterday, today and tomorrow. “Depleted” gives me permission to reach back as far as I need to go. For this reflection I go back 18 months to the start of the global concern about COVID-19. Many of us are so overdrawn on our energy it will take years to replenish ourselves.

Restoring ourselves requires rest. Let us start by stopping. As our country continues to navigate the return to in person and indoor activity at this stage of the pandemic, each of us makes choices about being around people, going to work, and taking care of loved ones. I invite all of us to pause. Let us give ourselves a chance to choose how to return. Many of us are finding different patterns of life and work than what we did before the pandemic.

Learning how to “people” again requires its own energy, for example. When is the last time you checked in with yourself? How are you doing? Really? Pausing long enough to pay attention to our emotional and physical health is a form of rest. Giving ourselves an intermission, even for a few moments, may provide new insight into our needs and our hopes. Making room for a longer break can remind us of who we are and who we want to be.

Rest is a radical act. By “radical” I mean getting to the root or the essence. Let rest help us get to the core of what we value, beginning with our own needs. Renewal is particular to each of us. Forms of rest include being quiet, spending time with art and nature, a break from saying yes, and of course, sleep. Rest might be saying yes to a new adventure or laughing with people we trust. Rest might be getting to know ourselves in an entirely new way as creative, resilient beings who are worthy of love and respect.

As we enter the next year of this pandemic, we must allow enough time and compassion for each of us to replenish our bodies, minds, and spirits. Let us give ourselves the gift of rest.