Rest Little Warrior

How to Rest Winnie the Pooh Style

Original image credit to Amin Hasani

My Dear Lovelians & Lifers,

There is nothing like a good virus to force me off my feet and teach a lesson my relentlessly busy mind refused to take the time to learn.

Time finally froze in my little corner of the world, just for me. It moved quite naturally for everyone else. While high fevers are no picnic, I happened to stay sentient enough to enjoy that feeling of no obligation or need pulling on the hems of my sweater. I forced myself to take a step back and face the reality that the world would go on spinning despite my not accomplishing everything I desired to undertake.  

I cracked my window and hunkered down under the covers of my bed. No other sound existed in the space, only birdsong and wind. I closed my eyes and let the breeze soothe my fevered face. The call on my heart gave me peace to acquiesce.

Rest little warrior it sang to me. So I did.

My body needed sleep, but my spirit needed something more ---- rest. The two are not in fact synonyms. One can rest without entering the land of dreams. And this is where I chose to be because, frankly, I enjoyed it more. A true state of rest is a choice, one that goes beyond putting aside physical activity.

Rest means quite literally doing nothing. It means taking a walk purely for the sake of being outside, wandering around, and tapping sticks on tree trunks, not to exercise or do anything other than being.

It means finding that comfy place on the couch and cozying up...and that’s it. It’s curling up beside the window just to watch it rain. Resting is an action. It is purposing to put aside the busyness and all the obligations hanging from your hems and take in the world around you. Now, this activity does not have to be done alone, but it most certainly cannot involve television, cell phones, social media, or any other mental distractions that pass the time while keeping you totally absorbed in your head. I’ve tried it all in my search for this elusive friend, but truly understanding it did not occur to me until that pesky virus took me down.

During my days dozing in the sun, I often found myself thinking how on earth am I to implement this in my daily life? Am I doomed to be an exhausted emotional zombie until the next time I am bedridden by a virus?

Well, this question only stays a predicament if I continue to value constant productivity over my mental-emotional well-being. Doing purely for the sake of busy hands is not productive and rarely accomplishes what truly satisfies. At least, this has been my experience.

Winnie the Pooh once said doing nothing often leads to the very best something. Or something along those lines. And you know? I’m starting to think this bear of very little brain has more wisdom than his childlike nature would suggest. Help me, Winnie the Pooh, you’re my only hope.

For the past couple days, I’ve woken up slightly earlier than normal, and by this I mean ten minutes. I propped myself up in bed ---- this is key, otherwise your body will fight you to go back to sleep ---- and listened to the life sounds around me.

It’s quiet. Those who are awake make no sound. Outside sings of early spring with crickets and bird calls. The sun begins to paint my far wall with horizonal stripes. In this moment. This moment. I have no obligation. I can just be. For ten minutes. My heart fills with delight at the thought. I read a chapter of Daniel, the next book on my chronological journey from Moses to Jesus. Today is just a day. I wonder what will happen in it.

Last night, I felt tired and retired early. I am still in recovery after all. I climbed the stairs to my room and closed the door. It was dark; my blinds were still open, and light from the LED streetlamp poured inside my window. Outside, rain fell in drizzling taps. Rather than ruin the mood of the space, I completed my routine in the pale glow and crawled into bed. It was too early for sleep; I didn’t want to throw off my rhythm, so I just laid on my stomach and watched it rain. I liked the sound. I soaked in the peace nighttime brings; my day was done. I let my thoughts wander a little. I couldn’t help but be reminded of an old Disney cartoon. After some time, I rolled over, pulled out my laptop, and watched The Rescuers. Really watched it. I didn’t play it in the background while doing something else. I watched the movie and let nostalgia fill me to the full. When the film finished, I paused, thinking about what I had just seen, and let it inspire my own imagination. I spent the rest of my waking hour or so writing. I ended my day content.

Rest is not a suggestion. God commands his people to rest. By doing nothing Winnie the Pooh style, we inadvertently answer the question Who is your God? Will I continue to worship the work of my hands or the God who guides my future, providing all my needs at the appointed time? This is not a call to be lazy; it is a call to do what needs to be done today and stop.

When deciding to stop, here are a few questions I ask to settle myself:

Where am I?

Is it cold?

How does it smell?

Is it quiet? What do I hear? ---- life always makes noise

Are there trees? Cars? People? Animals? What do they sound like?

I’m taking a walk (no headphones allowed).

Is it busy with cars or passersby?

What color are the clouds? ---- King David once gazed at this very sky; Daniel was once arrested looking up in prayer to these heavens (sound dramatic? I don’t know; I think it’s cool)

I wonder how I would paint this landscape

What kind of bird lives in that nest?

What are those people talking about over coffee?

Why are those men wearing suits?

Questions aside, I’m just happy to be one of the masses today.

True rest connects me to the world around me. Don’t miss it.

You have my Sword,

Olivia

P.S. Y’all February 20th is National Muffin Day. Yes. I agree with this decision.