August Inspiration

Our theme for services and events this month is 'Summer!'. Here, we share some inspiring words of wisdom and some questions to give you food for thought.

Words of Wisdom

‘Our body and mind have the capacity to heal themselves if we allow them to rest. Stopping, calming, and resting are preconditions for healing. If we cannot stop, the course of our destruction will just continue.’

Thich Nhat Hahn

‘And I hope these words remind you that you don’t just have permission to rest, to feed your own heart—but that it’s an absolute requirement. An unshakeable demand. A divine, daily need. So, no excuses.’

Sarah Harvey

‘When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief.’

“The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry

Questions for Reflection

1. As an adult, do you associate summer with rest or relaxation? Is that a luxury you’ve had the privilege to enjoy?

2. How do you find/make time to rest when you’re busy?

3. What are your thoughts on a “sabbath,” an intentional regular rest day? Do you observe one?

Image by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.