Years back, the Byrds had a popular song called, “Turn, turn, turn.” It talked about having a season for everything:
The chorus:
“To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven.”

For those of you familiar with the Old Testament of the Bible, the lyrics come from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. Now, I’m not going to be doing a sermon here.

However, I am going to say the song should have had a line about a time to rest and a time to go. I can write this because I did get some rest…I slept over 8 hours last night. It was rest I truly needed. And I’m not apologizing for it!

Why is it society has made resting something for which we are ashamed? I believe in working hard. The Protestant work ethic was drilled into me at a young age by my father. He grew up in the depression and he always worried about losing his job as an adult. He said you should go to work earlier than they expect you to and do more than what they asked.

But when did we get so confused about resting? Or sleeping for that matter? I hear people bragging how they were up very late and got up very early like it was a medal of honor. With some of the folks I know they think it is ridiculous to get 8 hours of sleep…they have too much other stuff to do or so they say. If anyone talks about going to bed early they get a look like “Gosh, you are a lazy bum.”

I know others who think they have to work 12 hour days. Not because they work for a company that requires it, but because they like talking about it. They complain nonstop about doing it, yet they do it again and again. They don’t have a time clock to punch, but I truly think they get some pleasure out of “complaining” about working so many hours. Are they truly getting that much more done? I read an article last week that said folks who work 12 hour days consistently aren’t as alert and are harming their health by not getting enough rest.

I know if I don’t get enough sleep, I’m not at my peak. My body tells me by not being alert and then as the day goes on, my joints ache. I see some of my on the go friends constantly struggling with colds or other illnesses because they aren’t taking care of themselves. A good sleep heals the body and mind.

I know there are folks who don’t need 8 hours of sleep. But for those of us who do, we need for society to quit brow beating us about this and making us think we are lazy. We aren’t. We are doing what our bodies need. We need to quit feeling ashamed of it.

So, I’m adding to the song:

A time to rest and a time to go
A time to play and a time to sleep
A time to work and a time to think
A time to be and a time just for me.

That said, I think maybe it’s time for a nap!