Recent studies have shown a remarkable thing: naps are good for you! Short periods of sleep, no more than fifteen minutes, have been clinically demonstrated to actually improve one’s performance and mood. It’s a scientific fact that has caused some forward thinking employers to allow and even encourage their workers to have a nap in the middle of the day.
There used to be a day when nodding off on the job was a sure fire way to be severely reprimanded and possibly even fired. After all, a sleeping employee is not a productive one. Mind you, if it’s on your break, that’s another thing entirely. What you do on your own time, as long as it’s discrete and doesn’t interfere with other people’s ability to do they’re jobs, is up to you. Still, to imagine that some companies actually want you to nap is pretty surprising and definitely a bit of out of the box thinking.
Such open-mindedness is also very much in accord with God’s plan for humanity. Don’t get me wrong: as far as I know there are no instructions in the Bible for us to take naps; there are, however, very clear instructions for us to take a break and to rest from our labours. The Bible word is Sabbath; it literally means “to desist” or “to break off.” God’s injunction is clear; we are to take one day in the week in order to desist or break off from all our work. God Himself did so after having created the Universe and everything in it.
The professional nap is a variation on that theme. It is a brief moment of getting away from work in order to re-energize oneself and to become even more productive. Not so remarkably, by proving that naps are good things, Science once again catches up to what Faith has known all along.
Our society kind of, sort of understands the Sabbath. The summer break from school is a perfect example of how we teach children how to take a break from the hard work done in the summer. Many adults also take their vacation time during the summer in order to “get away from it all” and make their break complete by taking off to the cottage with their family.
My personal break will include the whole month of July. There will be some time at home and some time with my family in Italy. This Sabbath will be complete and absolute. As much as I love my work at the church I will be happily not doing anything related to St. James whatsoever. Well, you will remain in my heart and prayers, but there will be no other effort made.
Part of my Sabbath will also include a break from these Thoughts for the summer, and possibly for a while longer. I will listen for the Spirit’s guidance on what direction to take; after all, sometimes change is good to. One way or another, with this final missive I offer you my best wishes for your own Sabbath, whether it’s a day off or just a quick nap. I invite you, as well, to immerse yourself in God’s love as the single most refreshing thing you can do for yourself. Enjoy your summer!
There used to be a day when nodding off on the job was a sure fire way to be severely reprimanded and possibly even fired. After all, a sleeping employee is not a productive one. Mind you, if it’s on your break, that’s another thing entirely. What you do on your own time, as long as it’s discrete and doesn’t interfere with other people’s ability to do they’re jobs, is up to you. Still, to imagine that some companies actually want you to nap is pretty surprising and definitely a bit of out of the box thinking.
Such open-mindedness is also very much in accord with God’s plan for humanity. Don’t get me wrong: as far as I know there are no instructions in the Bible for us to take naps; there are, however, very clear instructions for us to take a break and to rest from our labours. The Bible word is Sabbath; it literally means “to desist” or “to break off.” God’s injunction is clear; we are to take one day in the week in order to desist or break off from all our work. God Himself did so after having created the Universe and everything in it.
The professional nap is a variation on that theme. It is a brief moment of getting away from work in order to re-energize oneself and to become even more productive. Not so remarkably, by proving that naps are good things, Science once again catches up to what Faith has known all along.
Our society kind of, sort of understands the Sabbath. The summer break from school is a perfect example of how we teach children how to take a break from the hard work done in the summer. Many adults also take their vacation time during the summer in order to “get away from it all” and make their break complete by taking off to the cottage with their family.
My personal break will include the whole month of July. There will be some time at home and some time with my family in Italy. This Sabbath will be complete and absolute. As much as I love my work at the church I will be happily not doing anything related to St. James whatsoever. Well, you will remain in my heart and prayers, but there will be no other effort made.
Part of my Sabbath will also include a break from these Thoughts for the summer, and possibly for a while longer. I will listen for the Spirit’s guidance on what direction to take; after all, sometimes change is good to. One way or another, with this final missive I offer you my best wishes for your own Sabbath, whether it’s a day off or just a quick nap. I invite you, as well, to immerse yourself in God’s love as the single most refreshing thing you can do for yourself. Enjoy your summer!
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