God is said to have "moved it" for six days and then rested on the seventh day. If you read and understand Abraham Joshua Heschel's Sabbath in the first reading you are a genuine mystic and genius. It is a dense read. I even heard the rabbi speak of it in such terms.
The Jewish roots of Christianity tell us God sanctified time. Every encounter of God is a timeless one. The timeless One made holy the time we inhabit and told us that there is a time for REST.
Two quick stories. First, I'm so steeped in the American capitalist machinery of production that I often feel guilty for resting--much like the kid in me that remembers being yelled at by my coaches for taking a breather. So, I make myself earn the rest. I make sure I work hard often telling myself along the way, "Boy, the couch will feel good after I do all this work." Problem is, I often just keep working and rarely sit and REST.
Second, I'm teaching on the Sabbath and a woman in TN stopped me, "Hey, you mean to tell me I need to take a whole day each week to rest by not doing all the other things I do during the six?" "Yes," I replied. She retorted, "Can't be done, I'd have to reorient my entire week!" Yes, to honor the Sabbath all time has to be reoriented toward God.
In the end, all too often, I feel rest is for the weaklings. This is a take on the saying, "I'll sleep when I die." The question posed by the bible is not one of production but one of meaning and that meaning isn't found in the accumulation of things but in a life oriented in meaningful relationships that start and end with God. And, God rested and invites you into his rest.
Shalom, Greg
I love the Sabbath...when the kids were young and all nesting among us, we attempted a Jewish Sabbath on Friday nights, complete with a dinner table that had a white table cloth, candlelight, fresh baked challah bread, and all of us seated around the table looking fine. The experience lasted for a few months, but the kids still remember it fondly. As for stillness, you can't beat the Sabbath!
ReplyDeleteIf I weren't married to you I would want to marry you after reading your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that folks know the meaning of rest. I've seen many highly accomplished, high energy people spend their weekends doing an activity as intense as work. Sure it is a change of focus which may clear the mind but where is the meditation or just being.
ReplyDeleteRecently I had the occasion to be a party with some folks. A boy was there with his parents and apparently he was known for being inattentive at school or maybe just wiggley like he was at the party. During the evening the adults were introduced to a Wii fitness program that included meditation. The active little boy wanted to participate. All the adults laughed. He practiced for 30 seconds and failed the exercise which was to watch a lighted candle on the TV screen for 3 minutes. As the minutes wore on butterflies circled about the flame to distract the person meditating. He pleaded a second try sitting crossed legged on the floor. There was hushed silence as he sat for the long three minutes and then a roar of applause when he succeeded.
What if we all tried that especially with folks watching. Could we do as well. Once again, a child is the one who can teach us.
Carol
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice reminder that so much of the spiritual life is taught, caught, and not innate. We need places to PRACTICE our faith. Greg