DAY 38: "Sunday Afternoon Kevin" by Kevin Wood

DAY THIRTY-EIGHT: "Sunday Afternoon Kevin" by Kevin Wood


"Sometimes a nap is an act of pure laziness. Sometimes it is an act of worship."
- Allen Levi, folksinger from Columbus, Georgia


Sunday afternoons are usually "crash time" for me. Regardless of whether the sermon that Sunday was a good one or quite honestly one I'd just rather not repeat anytime soon, Sunday afternoons are my Sabbath - a time to just come home and be with my family. On Sunday afternoons I leave church at church, take off the "Pastor" hat and just slip into being "Dad" for the rest of the day. I might take a nap, one of my kids or Traci tucked right by my side. I might go out and toss the football with Graham, jump on the trampoline with Lydia, or roll on the floor with Fisher. I don't pick up a commentary and I don't touch any of my sermon help books. It's time that I value more than almost any other time during the week because for a full afternoon I feel like a good husband, a good father, and a good man. And that feels good.

I've learned something about Sunday Afternoon Kevin. My kids like him better than Tuesday Afternoon Kevin or Wednesday Morning Kevin. Sunday Afternoon Kevin is more relaxed. His mind has let go of church concerns and he is fully focused on his kids. Graham, Lydia, and Fisher love that. So do I. I believe God does, too.

As I was preparing for this week's message, I had to look at the Ten Commandments again. I was reminded as I read them that the fourth commandment that God gives is to "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy". That's funny. God commanded us to rest. It's like He is saying, "You must take some time off each week and let everything else in the world go undone for a full 24 hours." And this command isn't tenth of the Ten Commandments. It is fourth. Before adultery. Before coveting. Before killing. Rest is important to God. He is serious about His Sabbath.

Now here is what really made me think. When did God give Israel the Ten Commandments? While they were wandering through the desert. When they had left Egypt and were trying to make their way to the Promised Land. Maybe you're thinking, "So what?" Why is that such a big deal? Here's why. Because each day they took off from traveling - from making progress in their journey from Egypt to Canaan - was a day they lost in getting there. How many of us if we were traveling to Florida for a family vacation would just pull the car over and check into a random hotel for a day of rest, pushing our final destination back by another full day. Yet that is exactly what God was commanding them to do.

There are theological reasons for the fourth commandment, but I want to stay in the neighborhood of the practical reasons. Actually, I want to stick on just one practical reason. I think one practical reason God commands us to rest is because our relationship with those we love most benefits from it. So does our relationship with God. Simply put, I am a better father when I am obeying Gods' command to rest because I am more available to my kids. I rest from my work and I rest from my worries. The word that is used in Exodus 20:11 for "rested" means to "settle down" or "be quiet". You can almost here Psalm 46:10 echoing in the background, "Be still and know that I am God."

At the beginning of this article I said I think my kids like Sunday Afternoon Kevin best of all. I think God does, too. Because for one afternoon, I actually obey the fourth commandment. I rest. And here is what I learn from that simple act of obedience. When my mind isn't filled with all of life's worries I am a better father to my children. And when my mind isn't filled with all of life's worries, I am a better child to My Father.

Alright, that's enough for now. It's getting late and I need to... rest.

My Prayer For Trace Crossing:
God, help fathers spend more time with their daughters. Help mothers spend more time with their sons. Give husbands and wives just a little more time to enjoy one another with nothing to distract. Help us to see the wisdom in your command to rest. And help us to do it.