There are moments when we simply need to stop. Not because we have failed. Not because there is nothing left to do. But because we are human, and human beings need time to rest, to breathe, to be renewed. This holiday gave me an opportunity to do just that. Among the many experiences of my time away, one of the most meaningful was walking 12 kilometres of the Camino de Santiago. Twelve kilometres may not sound extraordinary, but walking those kilometres gave me something that I had perhaps been needing more than I realised: time.
Time to walk without rushing.
Time to notice the beauty around me.
Time to listen to my body.
Time to be quiet.
And, most importantly, time to reconnect with myself and with God.
There is something about walking that invites us to slow down. Step after step, the mind gradually becomes quieter. The concerns that seemed so urgent begin to find their proper place. The body works, but somehow the spirit also begins to breathe. For me, this was part of the gift of the holiday: remembering that caring for myself is not separate from my spiritual life. We often think of caring for others as something noble and necessary and indeed it is. But we can sometimes forget that we too need to be cared for. Our bodies need rest. Our minds need space. Our hearts need moments of peace. Our spirits need silence.
Even Jesus recognised the importance of withdrawing from the demands of daily life. He invited his disciples: “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31) Rest, then, is not simply the absence of work. It can be an intentional space in which we allow God to restore what has become tired within us.
Sometimes, the most fruitful thing we can do is pause. Sometimes we need to walk slowly enough to hear what our hearts are saying. And sometimes, in taking time to care for ourselves in body, mind and spirit we discover that we are better prepared to give of ourselves again.
I return grateful for the journey, grateful for the rest, and grateful for the quiet reminder that God is present not only in our work and service, but also in the moments when we pause, breathe and simply allow ourselves to be renewed.
