I love the distinction between ‘resting-from’ and ‘resting-in,’ well enunciated by Josef Pieper. The height of life is in activities of ‘leisure’ where we rest-in what matters most, a great example of which is contemplation. But simply resting-from our work (or even resting-from our acts of leisure) is also deeply human. Sometimes we should just take a break.

That we tire and need regular intervals of rejuvenation is clearly natural. It comes with being human, and with the gift of being bodily creatures. Sleep of course is a kind of break and resting-from. But we need other breaks in the course of our days, weeks, and seasons. To discern how to do this is important; we might even say it is part of the art of living.

For some of us, it is hard to take a break. It often makes us feel guilty, as though somehow we’re missing an opportunity or losing our edge. Life is wonderfully serious. And the more we have a sense of this, the more we might struggle in letting go and simply taking a break.

Those of us struggling with this should take a closer look. Taking a break is a resting-from that can have countless forms; the essential feature is that we are not-doing the more serious things we usually do. Lying in a hammock is a good example. As we recline, the greatest sweetness can be that we’re not doing anything at all.

But this very not-doing takes on special importance in view of the more serious things it actually serves. Resting-from has great justification in the fact that it better enables us to go back refreshed to the higher things. Perhaps we have not appreciated the place of hammocks, and other forms of resting-from, in the great scheme of human life.

Well, I sat down to write that I am simply taking a break from a Wednesday Quote this week. Clearly, I need to learn how to take a break, and go find a hammock. ~ ~ ~

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John Cuddeback

Husband, father, and professor of Philosophy. LifeCraft springs from one conviction: there is an ancient wisdom about how to live the good life in our homes, with our families; and it is worth our time to hearken to it. Let’s rediscover it together. Learn more.