Self-Care Sunday: Practice Niksen

The Dutch art of Niksen may not be as well known as the Danish art of Hygge, but it is equally important. 

Niksen (pronounced Neek-sah) is the art of doing nothing. Not using the phone, doing the dishes, listening to music, but actually doing nothing.

As life picks up pace and schedules are getting fuller again, niksen needs to be protected from busyness and overcommitting. 

One way I keep niksen is to actually schedule it on my calendar. It is one of my day's priorities and it counts as a valid plan. When someone invites me to something, I can legitimately say that I have plans and won't be able to attend. 

How can you practice niksen this week? 

A Necessary Role in the Church: The Questioner

The Church is guilty of creating an in-group (us) versus out-group (them). 

Furthermore, the Church is guilty of mocking, belittling, and tearing down the outgroup. 

That is why it is necessary for the Church to have people in its Sunday School classes, dinners, services, and other events, whose role is to question the Christ-likeness of our jokes, descriptions, and words in general.

So when someone makes a disparaging comment connecting atheists and the first of April, the Questioner can ask "If an atheist was here and heard your comment, would they be drawn to find out more about the Christ you profess?" 

When someone makes a mockery of the name of the opposing political party, the Questioner can ask "Is that how we should love our enemies?" 

When someone belittles the clothes/attitudes/behavior of the youth, the Question can ask "Is that how you want to be treated?" 

The Questioner is not to question the morality (or lack thereof) of the world, but they are to challenge those in the Church to choose words that are godly, edifying, and encouraging. 

Because people who feel mocked, judged, belittled, or otherwise put-down will want nothing to do with the Church or the Jesus we claim to follow.