Who Determines What is Non-Essential?

News of the end of the government shutdown brings joy to my heart. Though neither Republicans nor Democrats seem particularly pleased with the outcome, many of us are quietly rejoicing about the return to "normal," the return to work. During this shutdown I have been thinking of my friends who work for the state, friends like Linda and Brad and Cindy, whose work was considered "non-essential" and therefore they were told to leave their place of work for the time being.

What is truly non-essential? And who gets to decide? Many would consider my job, my work, "non-essential." As a pastor of a local church that serves only a segment of the community (not only through worship and prayer, but also through partnership with amazingly powerful agencies like the St. Louis Park Emergency Program), how essential am I?

I am on a renewal leave for the month of July. Pastors in my denomination are encouraged to take a month off every four years for renewal/continuing education/travel. The purpose is to feed your soul, and I am finding this time of renewal a gift as I reconnect with myself and my God. One way I’ve been doing that is through better attention to my prayer and study life. It is renewing to remember that everything isn’t up to me, that I believe in a Higher Power that can strengthen and sustain me when I feel lost or weak.

Prayer life is another thing people consider "non-essential," something that isn’t necessary to life, something that might be nice for some people, but certainly not essential. But I find that prayer isn’t just the frosting on the cake. It’s the cake, too, and the bread and butter of my existence. Not that I always remember that on a daily basis. I often go off on mental junk food binges of surfing the Internet or playing computer games until my mind goes numb. But when I remember myself and who I am as a beloved child of God, I am more inclined to get back to the basics—prayer, meditation, study, gratitude—and remember that all of it is essential.