Our culture begs a relentless cycle of consumption, performance, and achievement. We can become preoccupied by what we need to do, have, or be in order to be loved. These stand in the way of rest. Because rest is counter cultural (especially in the Bay Area), intentionality is vital to true, meaningful rest. The Hebrew concept of shavat, “to rest,” is connected to a larger biblical vision for the restoration of all things, including individuals (Deut. 5:14), the land (Ex. 23:11), and social structures (Lev. 25). Rest fosters restoration both within us and also through us.
