By law, the Tokyo City Zoo in Japan must be closed for two days each month.  The law was necessary because zoo officials discovered the animals were showing signs of extreme emotional distress from being constantly exposed to the public.

If that is true of animals, how much more true is it of us human beings?  We are constantly under stress -- especially as we are exposed to the public.  We need to take time -- time to rest our bodies, time to let our minds slow down, time to give some ease to our souls, time to reflect and pray, time to worship, time to join ourselves in quality relationships with those who love us, in order that their love might calm our spirits and restore our souls.

We need time to be with God and with those we love -- in order that we will be persons who have something to offer others when we are with them.