And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. Genesis 2:2
Taking time to rest doesn't seem to be in our cultural nature. We live in a 24/7 world that never seems to stop. We don't rest because we might miss out on doing something or being something. Yet, we know that God rested after creating the heavens and earth. Keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. People of the Jewish faith still keep this practice, some more literally than others. Christians have let this one sort of slide. Going to church on Sunday seems to suffice. After church (or before, in our case--the church service we attend is at 5:00 on the evening), we go out to eat or go shopping, catch up on work or school work. Even as I write this I know that Sunday mornings are the quietest time for me to sit and write these reflections. I also know how exhausted I can be from working 6 days a week, going to school, and maintaining a household (granted, I don't do that alone). I realize at some point something has to give.
Kevin and I have explored Sabbath-keeping for some time. We have in the past declared a "Computer Sabbath" where we literally will not touch computer from sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday night. I believe this year of living simply is in a way taking a Sabbath. We're taking a Sabbath from stuff, from shopping, and consumerism. It has been freeing not having to go shopping every weekend, wandering aimlessly around the store guessing what we might have for dinner five nights from now. It has been freeing knowing that while our cabinets may look somewhat bare, I know that there is plenty of food to eat because we've planned ahead. Kevin and I actually have a little more time together because we aren't preoccupied with running out to the store for something every day or every other day. Because we aren't driving our cars all over the place to get one or two things, we aren't having to go to the gas station as often, which gives us more time for other things or to REST!
The organization, Blessed Earth, posted this on their Facebook page a few days ago: Keeping sabbath isn’t just about giving our body a rest but about letting God transform our life, our relationships, and our way of relating to each other. Sabbath-keeping is one of the ways we claim God is taking care of things even while we rest.
"Sabbath-keeping is one of the ways we claim God is taking care of things even while we rest." At no other time than this has this statement been more true for me. When we began this year, it was in the trust that God would provide and God would see us through. From the beginning God has allowed us time to rest. At some point, we decided we didn't need to. Has it been worth it? I don't think so. Not only are we physically and emotionally drained, but we stopped letting God be the one in control. We stopped trusting that the sun will rise and set because God makes it so, not because of our own efforts. And, we stopped allowing ourselves time to connect more deeply with our faith and with the people to whom we are closest in relationship.
My grandmother cooked "dinner" on Sundays until she was unable physically or monetarily. It was actually lunch, but we always called it "dinner" for some reason. She started cooking before going to church, then came back home to finish the meal. All of her sons, their wives (or girlfriends--this changed over the years) and her grandchildren would come. Friends were also welcome at the table. Until I was at least 7 or 8, I think I lived on creamed corn, vinegar pickles, and macaroni and cheese. Boy, I'd love some of her cooking now! But, this ritual kept us coming together, even if there were disagreements among us and changes in relationships. It was in its own way a kind of Sabbath.
Later, from the time I was about 18 and into my early 20s, my mother would cook supper on Sundays. My sister and our significant others would gather with her and our stepfather, Bill. After the meal, we'd play cards or board games, listen to music, or watch movies. Again, this kept us connected and was a kind of Sabbath.
I miss those times and wonder if there is some way we can ever regain what feels lost. Perhaps we can, if we are intentional in making time to stop our work and remember that God allows us time to rest, to rejuvenate, to catch up with the people we hold dear, and to remember that God is taking care of things.
Here are some excellent articles about Sabbath-keeping I hope you will take the time to read:
The Jewish Roots of Christian Sabbath
The Liberating Gift of Sabbath
I hope you will explore with us ways to take time away from day-to-day work and busyness. Kevin and I are planning to attend the Sabbath Leadership Summit (sponsored by Blessed Earth) next month. We'll be attending a workshop entitled, "Making Do with Less: Expanding Sabbath Practices to Fight Consumerism." I'll look forward to reporting back about our experience.
Taking time to rest doesn't seem to be in our cultural nature. We live in a 24/7 world that never seems to stop. We don't rest because we might miss out on doing something or being something. Yet, we know that God rested after creating the heavens and earth. Keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. People of the Jewish faith still keep this practice, some more literally than others. Christians have let this one sort of slide. Going to church on Sunday seems to suffice. After church (or before, in our case--the church service we attend is at 5:00 on the evening), we go out to eat or go shopping, catch up on work or school work. Even as I write this I know that Sunday mornings are the quietest time for me to sit and write these reflections. I also know how exhausted I can be from working 6 days a week, going to school, and maintaining a household (granted, I don't do that alone). I realize at some point something has to give.
Kevin and I have explored Sabbath-keeping for some time. We have in the past declared a "Computer Sabbath" where we literally will not touch computer from sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday night. I believe this year of living simply is in a way taking a Sabbath. We're taking a Sabbath from stuff, from shopping, and consumerism. It has been freeing not having to go shopping every weekend, wandering aimlessly around the store guessing what we might have for dinner five nights from now. It has been freeing knowing that while our cabinets may look somewhat bare, I know that there is plenty of food to eat because we've planned ahead. Kevin and I actually have a little more time together because we aren't preoccupied with running out to the store for something every day or every other day. Because we aren't driving our cars all over the place to get one or two things, we aren't having to go to the gas station as often, which gives us more time for other things or to REST!
The organization, Blessed Earth, posted this on their Facebook page a few days ago: Keeping sabbath isn’t just about giving our body a rest but about letting God transform our life, our relationships, and our way of relating to each other. Sabbath-keeping is one of the ways we claim God is taking care of things even while we rest.
"Sabbath-keeping is one of the ways we claim God is taking care of things even while we rest." At no other time than this has this statement been more true for me. When we began this year, it was in the trust that God would provide and God would see us through. From the beginning God has allowed us time to rest. At some point, we decided we didn't need to. Has it been worth it? I don't think so. Not only are we physically and emotionally drained, but we stopped letting God be the one in control. We stopped trusting that the sun will rise and set because God makes it so, not because of our own efforts. And, we stopped allowing ourselves time to connect more deeply with our faith and with the people to whom we are closest in relationship.
My grandmother cooked "dinner" on Sundays until she was unable physically or monetarily. It was actually lunch, but we always called it "dinner" for some reason. She started cooking before going to church, then came back home to finish the meal. All of her sons, their wives (or girlfriends--this changed over the years) and her grandchildren would come. Friends were also welcome at the table. Until I was at least 7 or 8, I think I lived on creamed corn, vinegar pickles, and macaroni and cheese. Boy, I'd love some of her cooking now! But, this ritual kept us coming together, even if there were disagreements among us and changes in relationships. It was in its own way a kind of Sabbath.
Later, from the time I was about 18 and into my early 20s, my mother would cook supper on Sundays. My sister and our significant others would gather with her and our stepfather, Bill. After the meal, we'd play cards or board games, listen to music, or watch movies. Again, this kept us connected and was a kind of Sabbath.
I miss those times and wonder if there is some way we can ever regain what feels lost. Perhaps we can, if we are intentional in making time to stop our work and remember that God allows us time to rest, to rejuvenate, to catch up with the people we hold dear, and to remember that God is taking care of things.
Here are some excellent articles about Sabbath-keeping I hope you will take the time to read:
The Jewish Roots of Christian Sabbath
The Liberating Gift of Sabbath
I hope you will explore with us ways to take time away from day-to-day work and busyness. Kevin and I are planning to attend the Sabbath Leadership Summit (sponsored by Blessed Earth) next month. We'll be attending a workshop entitled, "Making Do with Less: Expanding Sabbath Practices to Fight Consumerism." I'll look forward to reporting back about our experience.