It feels good to rest after working. ~Peter of Celle, On Affliction and Reading
Each day during our diocesan summer camp, we have an all~camp “FOB” hour. FOB stands for “flat on bunk,” “flat on the bed,” or “flat on the back,” depending on who you ask. But no matter how you break it down, FOB means naptime, which is not always the most popular camp practice.
“Can’t we just play games as long as we stay in the cabin?” or “Why can’t we go for a walk? That’s relaxing” are just a couple of the “helpful” suggestions that campers offer when complaining about FOB. The most challenging concept to grasp—one the counselors themselves have to learn and then communicate to the campers—is that “FOB isn’t just for you. It’s for the entire community.” FOB is for the camper who is extremely tired but embarrassed to admit it because it isn’t cool. It’s for the camper who has such a strong fear of missing out on the fun that they will run ragged, trying to keep up and then dissolve into tears over a minor misunderstanding. It’s for the leaders who are working harder than they have ever worked and who need a bit of peace and quiet to recalibrate. It’s for the plants in the fields, the chickens in the gardens, the fish in the lake, and the staff in the office who all need a moment to exhale from the wonderful frenetic activity of camp life.
FOB is important for the good of the everyday life of camp; it is important for the entire ecosystem. When we obey God’s command to rest, whether through fasting, naps, silence, solitude or play, we contribute to the rest of the whole. This rest allows God to refill and restore what has been emptied and worn out in all of us.
For Reflection
How do you practice rest in ways that help others in your ecosystem to rest as well?
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