Holy Leisure

Start with five or ten minutes doing nothing. You may find that you can spend longer than five to ten, and if so you may want to try thirty or forty-five minutes—though this will be difficult for many, especially the first time if you have never done it.

Find a comfortable place to sit still for this time period.

Do not do anything that accomplishes something.

Just be. Do not do.

Through the years I have done this practice in groups, and there are some common questions people ask. I will address some of the main ones:

1. Can I read my Bible during this time?

Answer: No. But if you feel a strong need to look up a passage, feel free to do so. Just be sure you are not reading as a means of preparing for some future task, such as a Bible study or sermon. Remember: you are not to accomplish anything.

2. Can I write in my journal during this time?

Answer: Maybe. If you are hit with an insight that you want to write down, feel free to write in a notebook or journal. But as with the Bible, be sure you are not using this time to do something. Your goal is to do nothing.

3. Can I take a walk during this time?

Answer: Maybe. Once again, it is all about your motive. If you are secretly trying to get in some exercise, then the answer is no. That would be accomplishing something. But if you find yourself outside and want to walk to a lovely spot, feel free to do so.

The point of this practice is to become comfortable doing nothing, which puts to death our need to establish our worth through what we accomplish. If we make this practice a part of the rhythm of our lives, we will discover the joy of unhurried living, as well as the blessing of knowing that all of life is grace.

In my experience, many people will find this very difficult, and for some, even unpleasant. Many people have even said to me, “When I tried holy leisure it was a disaster—an epic fail!” If that is the case for you, do not be discouraged. The rule of thumb for all soul-training exercises is this: do as you can, not as you can’t. Simply do this exercise for as long as you are able, and be at peace. Few people do it well the first time, so give yourself a lot of grace. Focus on being and not doing for as long as you are able, and count on it being easier the more you practice it.