28 Sept 2019

Sabbath Rest



“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. But you refused." (Isa 30.15b)

         I've noticed a theme in a variety of recent unrelated incidents: an emailed algorithm-derived book recommendation suggesting that one day a week should be entirely screen-free, a snail-mail flyer for a yoga retreat, a social media advert promising to take care of all my health issues by learning how to meditate (at a significant cost, mind!), overheard conversations on the "trend" of breathing deeply to improve sleep. The theme is undeniable: rest!

            The underlying concern that this suggests to me is that society has forgotten how to do just that -we've turned away from the practice of rest, and have even lost the language. We now are expected to pay significant sums and commit much of our time to (re-)learn how to do what should come simply - and naturally - to us. Our days are busy, our calendars are jam-packed (mine's colour-coded). Our weekends are for catching up on chores (and just-one-more work email!), and we plan our 'vacation' time to maximize our pre-conceived goals and objectives.
            So what about rest? Given how we plan and over-plan our lives, it's no wonder we've dropped the ball on resting. We have forgotten to keep the sabbath.
            Sabbath, of course, is not merely a day off or a square on the calendar, it's not a legalistic demand to be counted in days and hours. Sabbath is a holy time, an intentional commitment to "pray and play", to reconnect with God and with our true selves. It is the restorative rest that brings us home.
            Sabbath encourages us to embrace exactly who we are, rather than trying to fit into a societal mold. It makes us crave the deep breath not just of oxygen, but of the spiritual grace that God continually showers upon us. It provides a grounding not just of the body to the earth, but of one of God's creatures celebrating the multitude of connections with the rest of God's creation. It rejuvenates our souls to be the joy-filled and light-hearted centre of the human that is called to live out a holy ministry.
            Sabbath, as Christians understand it, is a great gift that we are invited to delight in; even in the world of non-stop news and events and gatherings. It can happen any time we wish, when we recognise our disconnection from the source of all love, and make the commitment to desire to return.
            "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." (Heb 4.9-11)

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the lovely nudge to remember, Laura Marie. I especially appreciate your insight that, for something so basic and natural, we now think we have to invest significant resources in re-learning to rest. Wishing you a peaceful and restorative Sabbath.

    ReplyDelete