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This week, the Sojourners staff is gathering in Washington, D.C., to do something radical, subversive, and decidedly countercultural: close our laptops and take a retreat. In our day-to-day work, we regularly publish articles that remind us rest is holy resistance, not a "reward for the productive." We know Jesus himself made time to rest, pray, withdraw, and share meals with his friends. Or as one Sojourners author put it: “If there is an idealized activist mold of constant productivity, Jesus did not fit.” Still, I bet we’re not the only ones who find that easier said than done, especially when so many worthy things cry out for our attention. But we try to practice what we preach here at Sojourners. So instead of bringing you new content, we’re prescheduling this message and sharing some oldies-but-goodies from our archives on the topic of rest and sabbath. Taking time to rest can be a privilege, not accessible to everyone—an economic reality we want to change. Meanwhile, if rest feels elusive, try this: Put your feet firmly on the floor. Relax your shoulders. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Exhale slowly. Maybe repeat a restful Bible verse like Psalm 46:10 (“Be still and know that I am God”). When you open your eyes, know that you are deeply loved, just as you are—regardless of what you have achieved (or not) today. We hope you’ll carry that spark with you into the weekend, and we’ll see you here again next week.
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