I've begun to ask myself a question the past three nights at about 8pm. By then, Eden is asleep, the daily damage to the house has been cleaned up, I've made some fundraising phone calls, and it's time to relax. You see, I've earned it. Every day of the week includes a rigorous schedule that involves a full-time job, a family, and work that goes toward my future job. By 8pm every evening I can feel very content that I gave the day an honest effort and it's time to bring it in for the night. 5:50 AM the next morning seems incredibly early to me.

Yet, every night at about 8pm I get this sneaking suspicion that I feel incredibly empty and bored. I surf the web, and there's emptiness and boredom. The same happens with TV. Again, the same thing happens with a video game. Somewhere in the midst of taking my earned break, I feel like I'm dying instead of restoring myself.

I've begun to ask myself the past three nights, "Is the point of resting to get as close to death as possible?" The answer has to be "no." The body knows this. It restores itself as it rests (assuming that "rest" implies that it was preceded by "work"). We do not rest so that our body may slip into a useless, brain killing coma, but rather that it may fix what must be fixed in order to prepare us for the next day. Jesus certainly understood this. His restoration came in prayer and his sustenance was to do the will of His Father.

So what does restorative rest look like? How can 8pm look like a chance to better prepare myself for 5:50am and less like time to turn into a zombie? For one, it begins and ends with Scripture. Nothing restores like Scripture. Secondly, it's improving the relationship with the family. 8pm-10pm is quality time with my wife. And Third, it should look like a hobby. As I was complaining to my wife the other day that I feel like I don't do any of the things I like anymore, she asked me how long it had been since I'd written a song. It's been at least six months. And why? TV? Visual media? What a waste of time. The parts of me that are holy die with video games and too much Sportscenter. The things that I need to learn stay unknown with cubs.com and The Office.

Am I against all visual media? No. Am I against mind-numbing activity? Yes. At least, I'm beginning to be. Rest is for restoration, not temporary death.

The question becomes, are you getting ready for tomorrow, or just putting it off?