The stockings have been removed from the chimney, St. Nicholas has returned home and visions of sugar plums have faded. What are the elves left to do now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season has passed and the new year is rolling full speed ahead?
Tyler Coles is the Community Lead with SPARK, an intentional collective of young adults guided by the values of our shared faith, and as an Intern Minister with Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church in Alexandria, Va.
Summary:
This sermon explores the spiritual importance of rest as a necessary form of resistance against a culture that values human worth solely by productivity. The speaker highlights how artificial light and modern technology have disrupted natural sleep cycles, while societal expectations often label stillness as laziness or wastefulness. By referencing the Sabbath and the Nap Ministry, the sermon argues that rest is a divine right rather than a reward to be earned. Reclaiming time for stillness is presented as a political and holy act that protects one’s physical and emotional well-being. Ultimately, the sermon encourages individuals to reject the “grind” culture and embrace the truth that they are inherently valuable simply for existing.