Withdrawing to Re-engage

by Josh Collingwood

Besides the famed chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, the popular restaurant chain Chick-fil-A

is known for being closed on Sundays (a fact which most of us have lamented at least once).

Reasons for that decision include the faith of the restaurant’s founder, in addition to the fact that,

according to an interview with his son, in their first week, the restaurant’s founder was said to

have been “worn out” and “simply did not want to work on Sundays.” 1

In spite of the cost of that decision (over a billion in lost profits 2 ), there is strong evidence to

support the idea that remaining closed on Sundays has resulted in better employee morale,

increased retention, and operational consistency 3 . It has even been theorized that the

corporation saves on maintenance costs because even the equipment gets a day off.

It would seem that rest is important for people and machines as well.

Our broader culture is one of constant "doing", and this has taken a toll on our mental health.

66% of American workers have reported experiencing burnout in some form or another 4 .

Families are overwhelmed by the constant whirlwind of activities and lack of time together, and

youth mental health has been impacted by overscheduling 5 .

It sounds like we could all use a break.

Someone recently made a comment about the difference they saw in themselves - physically

and mentally - after something as simple as a good night's sleep. I know several individuals who

keep a regular "hermit day" as often as possible. They see this time as crucial for self-regulation

and renewed energy in whatever form that takes - whether it be hobbies, time spent with family,

time alone, or even time with others who bring a sense of rejuvenation.

The idea is that we return with greater effectiveness after having taken a break. In our

increasingly busy world, this is becoming a necessity if we are going to have any impact at all.

As the author Phileena Huertz stated in her book “Mindful Silence”: “We must withdraw to

engage if our interaction with the world is to bear any fruit that lasts.”

It all comes down to balance. This month marks the beginning of a new school year and families

may once again start to feel pressure on their schedules. As we move into the fall, there will be

a lot of good opportunities, and the temptation to try to do everything as well. May I suggest first

carving out some time for rest… And maybe a chicken sandwich.

https://web.archive.org/web/20101228020145/http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/10Commandme

nts/ten-commandments-sabbath-holy-chick-fila-closes-sundays/story?id=8570384&page=3

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/07/14/chick-fil-a-fast-food-should-open-

sundays-make-one-billion-sales/39666863/

https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/why-closing-sundays-helps-chick-fil

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2025/02/08/job-burnout-at-66-in-2025-new-study-

shows/

https://www.annanordberg.com/article/what-is-activities-culture-doing-to-kids

6. Heuertz, P. (2019). Excerpt from “Mindful Silence.” Retrieved from

https://books.apple.com/book/id1437294429.