Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

If you're like me, you feel like you're running around all day, every day. I wake up at 4:15am nearly every day, and then it's work and school and sports practices and cooking and housework and everything else that comes with life.

So this past week on vacation I've been learning to waste time. And if I'm right that your busyness often resembles mine, you might need some help in that area, too. Wasting time this week has helped me reorient my sense of self, build and deepen connection with loved ones, and renew my relationship with God.

One of the most well-known teachings about rest and wasting time comes from the Sabbath. In the book of Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to set aside one day a week for rest and worship. This sacred day was not meant for productivity but rather for rejuvenation, reflection, and restoration of our true selves. By wasting time and observing Sabbath, we remember that the world doesn’t revolve around us.

In the New Testament, we find Jesus spending quality time with his disciples and others, highlighting the importance of human connection. Slowing down invites us to invest in relationships, to waste time by engaging in meaningful conversations, and to be present for those we care about.

Psalm 46:10 encourages us to "Be still and know that I am God." In our hectic lives, it is easy to become consumed by busyness. However, taking the time to be still, to meditate on God's word, and to pray is essential. In these moments of wasted time we can gain clarity, find inspiration, and deepen our relationship with God.

So, let us learn to waste time wisely and discover the blessings that lie in the moments we pause, reflect, and simply enjoy being present.

And for the record, my wasted time this week has looked like slow mornings drinking tea on the porch, hiking beautiful trails, reading good books, and cooking great dinners.

What are some ways that you waste time, reconnect with yourself and those you love, and find peace for your soul? I'd love to know!