Rest as Resistance
Rediscovering the Sabbath Spirit at Ripplecove
Gracious reader,
This reflection is open to all subscribers.
If something here speaks to your own longing for rest or inspiration—and you'd like to go deeper—you're warmly invited to join one of the higher tiers, where I share weekly essays, reading recommendations and more.
And if you know someone who might need the reminder that rest isn’t a luxury but a quiet form of resistance, feel free to pass this along.
Rest as Resistance
One morning last week, after a breakfast that felt almost ceremonial—duck confit with a perfectly poached egg, followed by tiramisu pancakes dusted with cocoa—my daughter wandered down to the dock.
There, in the stillness of the bay, she spotted a catfish resting just beneath the surface. She knelt. Watched. Soon, her siblings joined her. Together they fed the fish, whispered to it, and studied its movements like a mystery they were slowly being invited to understand.
It was nothing—and it was everything.
No device, no toy, no plan could have conjured the depth of their delight. It was wonder, freely given and freely received. A sacred interruption in a world that moves too fast.
We were beside the still waters of Lake Massawippi in Québec’s Eastern Townships, at the beautiful waterside and grounds of Ripplecove Hôtel & Spa. There, we weren’t just invited to relax. We were asked, subtly and subversively, to stop. To step outside the current of ceaseless doing and slip into a different rhythm altogether. One not ruled by output or urgency, but by attention, receptivity, and grace.
This caused me to reflect: What if true rest wasn’t indulgence, but the foundation of a flourishing life?
In a culture that glorifies productivity and prizes efficiency, this invitation felt radical. Even our vacations are often curated to be efficient and Instagrammable. But at Ripplecove, I rediscovered a forgotten truth: that rest is not retreat from life—it is its very soul.
The Ancient Roots of Leisure: Scholē
The ancients knew this well. The Greek word scholē—from which we derive our modern word school—originally meant leisure. But this wasn’t laziness or idle time. Scholē referred to a sacred interval reserved for contemplation, philosophy, music, beauty, and friendship—the very things that make life worth living.
For Aristotle, scholē was not the absence of work, but the condition for our highest activity: the pursuit of wisdom and virtue. Work was necessary, yes, but for the sake of something greater. Leisure, paradoxically, was not for recharging us so we could work more. Work was for the sake of leisure.
And so, when we neglect leisure—when every moment is colonized by commerce or digital distraction—we become less than fully human. Ripplecove, with its understated elegance and reverent quiet, gently restored that truth.
Sabbath by the Lake
At Ripplecove, there is no rush to fill the day. No pressure to optimize every moment. Mornings unfold slowly with sun filtering through the trees. Canoes wait patiently at the dock. The spa welcomes guests not with promises of reinvention, but with the quiet dignity of presence—using organic botanicals to nourish, not transform.
In this unhurried place, I was reminded of the ancient practice of Sabbath—the Judeo-Christian tradition of setting apart one day each week for rest and renewal. More than a ritual, Sabbath was a spiritual posture. It was a declaration that we are more than what we produce, and that the world is sustained not by our striving, but by grace.
As Josef Pieper, the 20th-century philosopher and theologian, writes in his brilliant essay Leisure: The Basis of Culture:
“Leisure is not the attitude of the one who intervenes but of the one who opens himself; not of someone who seizes but of one who lets go, who lets himself go.”
Pieper understood that leisure is not a break from culture—it is its very foundation. Without it, there is no music, no poetry, no philosophy, no love. Just the tyranny of utility.
Ripplecove offers a gentle protest against that tyranny.
Rest as a Civic Virtue
This is why rest is not merely a private luxury—it is a civic necessity. A culture that has lost its capacity for leisure will not long endure. It will forget how to think deeply, relate generously, or act nobly.
When everything is transactional, we lose our ability to behold. And without the capacity for contemplation, our civic discourse becomes shallow, reactive, and cruel. A person who cannot rest cannot revere—and a society that cannot revere cannot be whole.
Ripplecove offers more than escape. It offers a quiet schooling in reverence.
The pine trees, the slow meals, the lavender in the spa, the still lake at dusk—each becomes a portal to what Pieper called the “festive attitude,” the posture of someone who recognizes the gift of being and allows herself to receive it fully.
Ripplecove was more than a place to rest—it was an invitation to remember. To reconnect not just with each other, but with a quieter rhythm of being. As we return to our daily lives, I’m trying—imperfectly, but intentionally—to carry that spirit with me. To move at a more human pace. To resist the pull of constant productivity not with guilt, but with grace.
I’d love to hear how you’re finding or creating spaces of stillness within your own life—not perfect stillness, but what’s possible. Let’s reclaim rest not as an escape from reality, but as a way to be more fully present to it.
Currently Reading & Loving:
Deskilling & Demons by Alan Jackson- one of my favorite pieces on harm of AI!
Looking ahead:
August 28, 2025- Indiana Women's Collaborative, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
September 9, 2025- Indiana University Bloomington
The Polo Club of Boca Raton, November 3, 2025
In the news:
Great to see The Soul of Civility and my talk at Freedom Fest become a cover story! Read here!
My 4-year-old asked for a smartphone. Here's what I did next as a parent.- In my new USA Today piece, I reflect on why my son wanted a phone so badly: 'If adults are perpetually distracted by their phones, the message is clear: Presence with others takes a backseat to screens.'
The Steep Price of Declining Civility- “Moral habits that promote human flourishing are virtues. Moral habits that divide us — within ourselves and between us and others — are vices.”- Thank you for mentioning my book, The Soul of Civility, in this thoughtful article!
The Bryan Hyde Show- Every single one of us can be a civilizing influence wherever we happen to be standing. Barry Brownstein reviews Alexandra Hudson's book "The Soul of Civility" and explains our personal duty to be a source of civil behavior. Any time we find ourselves a little too up-to-date on what's happening politically, it's time to take a step back and regain our perspective.
Is Silence Violence? How Yale Law School Reminded Me of the Virtue of Viewpoint Neutrality- “Viewpoint neutrality isn’t weakness — it’s a principled stand that respects disagreement and protects civil discourse.” Sharing my latest for WSB blog — interested to hear your thoughts!
The World’s Oldest Stories to Help Your Relationships! With Alexandra Hudson- Truth Changes Everything Podcast
I Love to Read: Author Alexandra Hudson to headline Zionsville Community Read event- Wishtv.com- Want to know the secret to doing politics well today? Doing politics LESS. We’ve allowed politics to take up too much of our mental consciousness, and it’s hurting society and ourselves. Join us in Zionsville at The Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library on April 30th at 6:30 PM in the Lora Hussey Room to explore this and many other surprising ways to heal our divides.
Paideia, Humanitas, Civility and Education- I was honored to be invited to write this essay for The Ronald Reagan Center on Civility and Democracy. In a time often marked by division and discord, reflecting on the relationship between civility and education offers both wisdom and hope.
Thanks to Timothy Donahue of Oakland University for this thoughtful Public Books review of The Soul of Civility! He highlights a key argument: civility isn’t mere politeness—it’s essential for real social progress. Read here!
I had a great time joining Josh on the Good Morning Liberty podcast! We discussed historical lessons on civility, focusing on how John Adams and Thomas Jefferson overcame deep political divides to restore their friendship. Their story is a powerful reminder that mutual respect can heal even the deepest rifts. The episode is now live—tune in and let me know your thoughts!
It’s Time for a New Era of Christian Civility- read my latest piece for Christianity Today!
Thanks so much to MSNBC for hosting a segment about The Soul of Civility. Watch here!
A Year Ago on Civic Renaissance:
Civility is surprisingly timeless
Thank you for being part of our Civic Renaissance community!
Where can I find "Deskilling & Demons"? Your link takes me to Alan Jackson's blog, but I don’t see this article? essay? book? mentioned there, and a Google search turned up nothing.
Oh my! My parents and I went to Ripplecove for several years in the 1960s! We lived in Montreal and I would so look forward to our annual two weeks in July. It was fantastic. We also went there a couple of times in the Fall, also beautiful. The last time I was there, I was visiting my cousin in St Bruno and we drove down and had lunch. So bittersweet to see that beautiful place again. Could never afford to stay there now but I have my memories ;)