Finding Rest in a Restless World
I recently took a brick to my phone.
Not quite Nick Offerman style with a hammer in that one commercial, as enticing as that may be. No phones have been smashed or thrown into the ocean.
Rather, I’ve Bricked (is this a verb now?) my phone’s most distracting and time consuming features for me - internet access, email, all social media type apps, and podcasts. It’s gone from a smartphone to an overpriced camera, navigation, text, and music player device.
The results have been what I expected, although still somewhat surprising - less anger and rage, increased ability to focus and be present, and better sleep.
To be sure, my dopamine, cortisol, and adrenaline levels are still sorting themselves out, still looking for the next hit. But in a relatively short amount of time, this turning away from something I carry around in my pocket is helping me find more space for rest.
I am often haunted by the words of the prophet spoken long ago: “In returning and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.’ But you would have none of it…” (Isaiah 30:15).
These words are true for me. I would have none of facing how exhausted I am, how heavy the weight of saving the world has become, not to mention trying to save myself by more efficient tactics to keep on keeping on
Isaiah, in his day, called that strategy getting stronger and faster horses. We might call it an intervention, boundaries, safeguards, or accountability (all good stuff!). But there’s no outrunning or outmanuevering an always on newsfeed and the ever-increasing anxiety that accompanies it.
Maybe that’s why the last few weeks have felt more like withdrawals than a peaceful afternoon nap.
More like confession and surrender than an action plan.
More like being quiet and stumbling toward trust.
This type of rest that meets us deeply in our nervous system, in our bones, and, dare I say, our soul does not come quickly.
I am finding that rest most often comes for me at this stage in small and unannounced ways. It comes mostly as a surprise when there is enough space for me to hear and receive it. Sometimes just a word - as Isaiah put it, a word behind me, saying, “This - the way, walk in it…”.
So about that Brick…it is helping me with boundaries, accountability to others, and safeguards for my heart. It is not saving my soul. It is simply a tool that is helping me find more space for the life-saving rest I need.
What about for you? Might there be a first step, or next step, you can take to help your soul find the rest for which it so deeply desires?
Suggestions as a starting point:
Brick your phone -getbrick.com
Consider a 10, 30, 60, or 90-day social media fast.
Get outside in nature on a regular basis, preferably early mornings. Try it without earphones or AirPods.
For bonus points, plan a silent/quiet afternoon, day, or a whole silent retreat.
Make space daily for quiet. Start with just one minute of silence, meditation, or listening prayer and build from there. Maybe start with Isaiah 30.