August 23

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I mentioned at the Masses this past weekend, I have been playing host this week. Once again, my priest friend from Pittsburgh will be out to the Garden State for a week of vacation. And so, while you may have seen my car and his in the driveway, the reality is, I’ve taken some time away from parish life.

Rest is not something our American culture is a big fan of. Whether it’s getting the recommended hours of nightly sleep (7-9 hours), time for daily recreation (2-5 hours), and vacation time (about 8 days per trip), such things are hard for many of us to come by. Sometimes that’s the demands of life getting the better of us. Sometimes, it’s our own practice and habits that get in the way. It feels strange to offer something like a siesta as a good business practice, and a 4-day work week is often maligned, but the insistence on ‘go, go, go’ and the need to work hard rarely align with what medical science and psychology prescribe for a happy life.

And if you feel like I’m targeting you or your habits, please know, I’m very much in the midst of it. The life of the parish is rather full, especially as you factor that we have a school as well. Every day, something is going on. Every day, there’s something that needs to be taken care of, or that we need to meet about, or is somewhere in the back of my mind. And I know that reality is felt by those active in the workplace, those raising children, and those just going through life. There’s a momentum to life that's not necessarily a bad thing. But if we let that momentum keep pushing us forward without the occasional reset (like a vacation) or an evaluation of what we’re doing day in and day out, we risk letting the busyness of life get the better of us.

I’m a firm believer in the biblical theory of rest. From the very beginning, in the story of Genesis, God has provided a blueprint for life. Yes, there are six days of creation, and, as such, we can see the importance and value of working and being productive. But there is a day set aside, with no other goal than to bring rest and reconnection to the human person. Did God Himself need a break because the action of creation was too tough for Him? Or did our loving God realize the opportunity to model what we need as human beings out of concern for us and our well-being?

Friends, I hope that you have those opportunities to recharge what you need. Whether it’s a vacation, daily recreation, or something in between, I really hope you take some time away from your busy schedule. And in whatever way you may rest, I hope it also helps you reconnect with God as well!

Peace and Goodness,

Fr. Dan