A Guilt-Free Sabbath

So this morning I woke up and realized that the cold I've been fighting all week is still hanging around, so I rolled over and decided to go back to sleep. It's Friday, the end of the first week of summer intensive classes, so it's been a busy week and I am pretty much exhausted--and I have no where I have to be all day long, no class, no meetings, nothing. So after sleeping for awhile longer I decided to move to the couch and pop in a movie and spend some time replying to some emails while watching Robin Williams inspire his young students in Dead Poet's Society. What amazed me was the overwhelming feeling of guilt I had while laying around in my pajamas on my day off. Where does that come from? What kind of world do we live in that says we are not allowed to take a day off and be lazy? Especially when we're sick!? Just a thought, but I think maybe we need to work on that as a society in general becuase I KNOW I am not the only one who has a hard time taking a day off now and then. We have this mentality in our culture that says the harder we work and the more busy we are the more successful we are, and to rest is a sign of weakness--something to feel guilty about. Never mind that God specifically consecreated a day for the sole purpose of allowing us to rest--that seems to be a discipline we have lost, especially in our culture today. Just thought I'd share what's on my mind---oh and I did give myself permission to stay on the couch--and it's amazing, and you all should try it!