Peace - At What Cost?

Many are familiar with Psalm 23.  One of my favorite books breaks it down piece by piece. It's a wonderful reminder of how we should live and how God wants us to live. 
     "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul."
     Restoring my soul. Man, that sounds amazing. 
     Notice the word "He".  We are not capable.  This world (more this country than others) has programmed us to look at stopping for more than an hour as a bad thing, when in reality Sabbath was a command.  God stopped but we think we can't or shouldn't.  That is the way of the enemy. There's a common phrase that I believe is really just an excuse, "living their best life." We've equated soccer games, household fixes, box checking accomplishments in the busy category, even sitting down in the evening drinking wine with "living." Busy has been turned into a badge of honor and importance and our coping mechanisms are askew because of it. We are raising the next generation in a level of over commitment to "do" and under commitment to "be." Be still and know, as God would say. Yes, there are things to get done, fun to be had, child enrichment to achieve, but it only works in the context of balance. There are studies done that prove children today get anxiety when/if they have silence for just a few moments!  Stress rises under peace! Not only is that messed up, but that one is on us. Children learn more from how we live than what we say.
     When raising my daughter, the first week of every month was "no TV week."  When we'd enter week two of the month, she'd usually ask for it to continue!  Family time without electronics. Now there's a revolutionary thought!
     Illness, stress, even family problems may cease if we just stopped and found peace for twenty-four hours a week. One day out of seven. Think of it as tithing time, but for your benefit. This electronic age keeps us wired, yet He's built into our being the need for rest. Being wired keeps us stressed. Genius battle strategy really.  Years ago, we'd have to go out of our way to connect electronically, then the enemy created devices that rest in our pocket 24/7. There is no shut off.
     Studies have been done recently on a scientific process that is opening our eyes and it is called "grounding." It involves therapeutic techniques that involve doing activities that "ground" or electronically reconnect you to the earth. The science revolves around the physics of electrical charges from the earth to our bodies and the positive effects they have. It's an under-researched area but the most recent data shows it can reduce inflammation, heart disease, muscle damage, chronic pain and alter our mood. The electrical conductivity functions as an immune system defense, similar to antioxidants. 
     Grounding can be done by walking barefoot outside, lying on the ground, or even submersing in water. Hmmmmm, maybe that's why so many of us like the beach or forest?  I find grounding science fascinating because we came from dirt. The soil and water of this planet formed humankind, and stopping to ground ourselves is a definitive, scientific way to reconnect to who and how God made us. Will we ever get that stopping to be a part of this earth, to enjoy the gifts that surround us, is what fills our souls and calms our breaths? 
     I have to admit, at times I've prayed for more hours in the day. This prayer was to accomplish more of what I deemed necessary. Thank you, God, for limiting the length of a day! 
     Stop for a moment and think about staying in peace for a day. Sit in this thought. Stopping the hurry and tossing the "to-do" list. What feeling does that bring up?  Anxiety? Or did you just smile? Maybe a deep sigh?
     Here's the thing. Sabbath means you're living in trust. You trust what needs done will get done, maybe not in your timing but in God's.  What needs provided will be provided, whether food or money. Either we trust God with all we have, especially our greatest asset, time, or we don't. 
     We were not created to live like we do. It's obvious. Read any headlines, look at the health statistics, the brokenness, the anger. It's time for a reboot.
​     Read those first sentences of Psalm 23 again. Let Him lead you. Stop. Just stop. Literally, stop. It's a command and it's a gift. But most importantly, it's for our physical and mental well-being. Teach your children how to live healthy, beyond food choices. Teach yourself that you are more important than a list of things to do and places to go. It's time to implement Sabbath.  And if your kids ask why you're lying on a blanket in the middle of the yard? Ask them to join you and find funny shapes in the clouds.