122. Rest as a Remedy

Today’s reading: “The Ministry of Healing” pp. 236–237a.

Roaming through the fields and the woods, picking the flowers, listening to the songs of the birds, will do far more that any other agency toward their recovery.

Today we look at just one paragraph on the remedy for overwork, “rest.”

As with all the remedies, to apply rest requires “care and effort” and “the surrender of healthful indulgences” to “reap the reward in health of body and health of mind.” p127. The next two chapters will explain this in detail but today we get the overall picture of this valuable remedy.

For the overworked, brain-weary and nervous from “continual labor and close confinement”, the most effective remedy is a visit to the country characterised by,

• freedom from care, a carefree lifestyle
• simplicity (in food and sleeping hours)
• long “roaming” walks (as opposed to exercise sessions)
• taking notice of nature (flowers and birds)

We tend to equate rest with sleep these days so here are a few essentials about sleep,

• the bedroom should well ventilated but warm and dry in wet or cold weather pp. 274, 275, thrown open to the sun during the day p. 275, especially for babies. pp. 381,382.
• deep breathing of fresh air induces sound refreshing sleep p. 272.
• evening meals should be well before bedtime pp. 303, 304.

Index to “The Ministry of Healing” readings.

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