An encouragement to prioritise rest

Rev Katherine Chow looks at why we can find it hard to stop, and what we can learn from Jesus about getting the balance between doing and resting 

I am a self-confessed doer and like to get things done: I find it hard to slow down and simply be present and in the moment. Over the years, I’ve been fascinated by the rhythm of work and rest. This is partially because I have often struggled to get the balance right and find it hard to stop. 

I was raised by immigrant parents who instilled a strong work ethic in their children. Our summer holidays weren’t restful. Interspersed with moments of play were a plethora of educational activities that kept us productive. One August in my childhood, my dad thought it would be a good idea for us to learn how to touch type over the summer. Every day for six weeks, we spent hours learning how to type on the keyboard without looking down at our fingers. It was neither restful nor fun.