Sabbath
Sabbath
I want to thank our church council and you the members of our church to afford me one final sabbatical. From June 2 thru Sept 2, I will be on my third sabbatical. I will return for church funerals and continue my Thursday Bible study remotely. Join me Thursdays, 12:15.
While away, I will be studying the Gospel of John. I have 2 books and 1 large commentary ready to go. I look forward to a new cadence in my weekly pattern. I look forward to experiencing worship services in other churches, and I hope to connect to another faith community in a deeper capacity than just showing up for Sunday morning worship. It will be an adventure for me, and I love change, possibility and the unknown.
On Memorial Sunday the theme of my sermon was Sabbath. We get “sabbatical” from the word Sabbath. Although I am writing this before the sermon is completed, I realize some things about Sabbath in our culture.
We don’t do Sabbath well. We are people who identify ourselves by what we do. If we are doing nothing…we must be nothing. It a badge of honor to say…”I’m too busy”. We are a go, go, go society. Friends of mine say the Northeastern USA is the worst.
I experienced the rat race pace, when I returned to Pennsylvania from a year of missionary work in Papua New Guinea. The word on the street when I live there in 1986-87, was the fact that a traffic light was installed in the capital city of Port Moresby. The nation got its first traffic light, and even though I never visited the capital, all the villagers heard about the event. It was big news.
When I returned home, I was in a state a shock at the pace of life. I was mad, angry, and wanted to go back to a more “primitive” way of life. But after a few weeks, months…I got used to the face pace once again. Its amazing how that slow creep takes over.
Why do we not stop? But then again research says the average person scrolls on social media 2.5 hours/day, and watches tv 3 hours/day. Yes this is average, some do very little others lots and lots….still it makes a point, we are busy but doing what?
Sabbath was designed in a time before TV, Internet, Movies…when everyone was engaged in some form of manual labor. The body needed to rest. The spirit needed to rest. Life was short and difficult. Things have changed, but the body, spirit, soul, needs rest.
Sabbath begins with an intention. Am I going to consciously carve out a day to think and do something different. Will it begin with worship that then transcends to resting, relaxing, reading, slowing down, being peaceful and reflective?
One of my favorite habits of Steve Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, is the habit to “Sharpen the Saw”. Take the time away from the work of sawing, to hone your skills and saw blade. Sharpen yourself, with activities that rejuvenate and recharge.
Again thank you for granting me a sabbatical. I look forward to a change of pace. It is my sincere hope and prayer that you will see just what a sabbatical can do.
Enjoy a weekly Sabbath yourself.