Reflections from Germany: A Culture of Rest

I studied abroad many moons ago and remembered that there were quite a few cultural differences that I experienced. While I noticed those differences at the time, if I’m honest with myself, I mostly just traveled and “had a good time.” This time, however, was a bit different, probably because of age and definitely because of life experiences. This time I paid a greater amount of attention to the burdens of the people around me, to their joys, and to the general differences that make German culture unique. Over the next few posts, I’ll reflect on some of the things I learned and a few insights I think I gained while teaching at the Munich International Community Church women’s retreat. So up first: they rest and they rest well!

One of the topics I emphasize in my new book Enjoy is the idea that Sabbath is a part of enjoying God. We are made for rest and a true Sabbath helps us rest not only physically and/or mentally, but in our Lord and Savior. I won’t give away too much (I sure hope you’ll consider reading it yourself when it releases at the end of this year!) but one of my illustrations involves how much Europeans seem to embrace the idea of Sabbath, at least theoretically. The general European culture, even across countries, seems to have adopted a slower pace, more holidays, and pushed against the tyranny of the urgent. Again, I am not saying that they’ve embraced the biblical view of Sabbath rest, but simply the idea of the importance of resting in general. On the contrary, American culture as a whole, seems to be hurried, scheduled, busy, and lacking rest. I saw this first hand on my recent visit to Germany.

I remember the first time we sat down at a restaurant to eat and the waitress didn’t come back for quite some time once we had completed our meal. I started to wonder if they had forgotten us. I mean, in the USA the server would have long ago placed our check on the table, sometimes before we had even finished our meal. So, what was going on? I asked our hosts and they informed us that meals aren’t hurried. Most people will sit for two or three hours minimum to enjoy their food and time together. As a matter of fact, at each meal that I was at with other Americans in Germany, we’d always see people who were seated when we arrived and were still sitting at their table as we left. That was just from mealtime…and then came Sunday. Everything was shutdown and everyone was outside. I, a lover of all things outdoors, couldn’t believe the amount of bikes, rollerblades, and walking about that I was seeing. And it wasn’t just individuals on their own, everyone seemed to be with family or friends. And everything was shutdown—all of the stores, most of the restaurants. This is the tradition, at least in Munich. When asked about why everything closed, I was told that they take rest very seriously. So seriously in fact that everyone (everyone!) receives six weeks of vacation each year.

I had to guard my heart against envy. I’d love to have our family be able to take six weeks off and still be able to pay bills! I do know that pastors and missionaries do that in the US and abroad, but the average person in America isn’t able to do such a thing. But I once I got over my longing for life where rest is a part of society, I realized that I already have plenty of time to rest, but instead so often fill up my opportunities to rest with other things.

Between events, meetings, work and activities, we are quite the busy bunch in the typical American culture. Add on to that easy accessibility due to the internet (email, Facebook, etc.) and we are also so easily distracted. Finding time for a true Sabbath rest can be difficult, but as one who experienced pieces of it on my trip to Germany and one who is learning to exercise and strengthen this muscle at home, I’m convinced it’s absolutely essential and beneficial to our spiritual health.

Please don’t get me wrong, not taking a break does not mean you are less of a Christian and taking a break doesn’t earn you any favor before the Lord. I do, however, believe it is a wise practice. Even our God rested after he created (Genesis 2:2). If God rested, even though He didn’t need to rest, shouldn’t we as His image bearers and those who desperately need it do so as well? Only our Father never grows tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28).

So, what about you? Have you found that it is difficult to rest? Do you feel like if you don’t keep going then everything will fall apart? What is keeping you from saying no to more obligations, activities, etc?

My prayer for you and me is that this year we’d learn to not only enter into bodily and mental rest, but that we’d experience greater rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

**Please know that I have only travelled through parts of Western Europe and I was just in the Bavarian area of Germany.

*Received this informative note from someone: One correction to yesterday’s blog posts: restaurants DO stay open on Sundays. They’re really one of the only retail businesses that do. The other main one is gas stations. BUT: you could add this remarkable notion: restaurants very often will have a “rest day” during the week. Might be Monday or Wednesday, or even Sunday. And: unthinkable in the USA, they’ll shut down for a few weeks, even a month to take a holiday break!

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