Leisure
Recovering a lost art
I take leisure very seriously. And that’s probably because for a long time, I was failing spectacularly at it.
I have never been a great “rester.” As a child, I would stay up hours past my bedtime reading books in bed. I spent my weekends writing plays and putting on skits (thank you to those who had to sit and watch lots of skits) and telling stories. I do not nap, and I like to hang out with people. I would often go through long periods of intensity and then crash out or get sick, and that's when I would finally stop and slow down to reset. I thought that going on an annual retreat or slowing down during the one week each year I was sick was enough to power me through my work and my busy life. It was not a great cycle.
So I determined to do something about it. And that something was reading Joseph Pieper’s book, “Leisure: The Basis of Culture.” It’s a phenomenal book, and very relevant to my word of the year “wonder,” since Pieper’s thesis is that leisure is a capacity of mind and soul to perceive the “real world” — and that it’s not only important, it’s essential, for the flourishing of any culture.
One of the biggest things I took away from Pieper’s book is that “leisure does not exist for the sake of work—however much strength it may give a man to work; the point of leisure is not to be a restorative, a pick-me-up, whether mental or physical; and though it gives new strength, mentally and physically, and spiritually too, that is not the point. Leisure, like contemplation, is of a higher order than the vita activa (although the active life is the proper human life in a more special sense). And order, in this sense, cannot be overturned or reversed.”
The point is not to just find the quickest way to recharge ourselves like dying phone batteries so we can throw ourselves back out there into the noisy, busy world. Instead, it’s to live with a spirit of contemplation, to commit ourselves to true leisure at more regular intervals so that we can appreciate and embrace our role in the bigger story of the world, to remind ourselves that we are more than our work: we are beloved children of God. At its heart, leisure is an act of true being, in a world very focused on doing. And it requires a commitment to live and protect.
I learned this in a pretty dramatic way a couple of years ago, when I went on a three-day silent retreat after a period of intense work. Like a tidal wave, my feelings, thoughts, worries, and desires came crashing over me with an intensity I had never experienced — it was overwhelming, and not a fun time. When I talked with my spiritual director about it later, he asked me how much time I was making for silence and leisure in my daily life. When I told him it was pretty much limited to my daily prayer, he suggested that I take half-day retreats once a month so that my mind, my heart, my soul, and my body can catch up to one another, and I wouldn’t have to deal with a tidal wave that massive the next time I take a prolonged silence. I love my monthly half-day retreats and guard them with my life, and through that practice I have come to see how important committed leisure time is — not so that I can work better but so I can be better.
I’m enjoying a few days off this week, which means lots of leisure time! It has been a joy to take long walks around DC, write in a coffee shop, spend good time in adoration with the Lord, clean my house, and read a book. It's so wild to go from the pace of my job, which is very intense, into a week of resting — especially resting at home. Most of my vacations involve a big trip or going to see my family, so doing a little staycation is really special and I think lends itself even more to leisure. But it’s also harder! It's hard to be in the same environment and tell myself I can slow down. I know this sounds so silly, but I listened to a podcast a few months ago and the priest committed to walking slowly for Lent. So I've been walking slowly around DC, and it's wild 1. how much more I see and 2. how much it impacts my nervous system. I'm so much calmer and so much more at ease.
Another joyful exploration of leisure that I've taken this year was reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I love it so much because Julia's perspective on creativity is that it is something we do in partnership with God. Pieper’s thesis is that leisure enables us to contemplate the things of God, and so when you bring those things together, writing, creating, and developing can be a manifestation of what Pieper terms “active leisure.”
So I'll be over here this week, enjoying my active leisure, and I encourage you to reflect on places for leisure in your life! Maybe it's commuting to work in silence this week or picking back up your paint by numbers or taking on a little creative project in your home. When we participate in the creative act of God we come closer to Him, and it enables us to rest and know Him and ourselves even more. How fun is that!
In Christ,
Jane
What I’m loving lately
The idolatry of a well-ordered plan
I stumbled upon this 2024 article from Claire Swinarski, and it was exactly what I needed this week.
I loveee these little daily journal prompts! I have been taking them to prayer each evening. A fun creative writing / get to know yourself better exercise.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
I am convinced that Marvel makes Catholic movies, and this only strengthened that conviction. A beautiful story about friendship, generosity, and sacrifice. Also, what a joy to see Tom Holland and Zendaya on the big screen twice in one week!
In spite of me
I went to a Christian Music Festival this weekend, and it was so good and encouraging! I was dismayed as singer after singer came up and performed at least one song about the importance of surrender… you’d think that once you’ve had a 20-year career in Christian music you might be getting everything you want! Alas, that is not the case in the Christian journey, and I’m glad we have some great songs to carry us through. There were many new-to-me hits, but this one has been on repeat:
A great reminder
“It is presumptuous of me to wish to choose my path, because I cannot tell which path is best for me. I must leave it to the Lord, Who knows me, to lead me by the path which is best for me, so that in all things, His will may be done.”
- St. Teresa of Avila
Prayer intentions
For Julia and her family
For a special intention