Several years ago we got convicted about taking a sabbath. We experimented with different days of the week, trying to fit one into our clergy couple way of life. For me it was a total flop. I just couldn't do it. The decisive breakthrough came when I started conceiving of a sabbath as that ran from evening to evening, instead of morning to morning. I still experienced difficulties and challenges in practicing a sabbath--there was a definite learning curve!--but the main obstacle seemed to have been eliminated. It was quite amazing.
One of the main things I noticed about myself over time was the way my body seemed to long for the approaching sabbath. We've found that Friday is the best sabbath day for us, and we usually welcome the sabbath with a somewhat special meal on Thursday evening. On most Thursday afternoons, I become aware that I'm leaning into this approaching experience of rest.
I have difficulty putting this leaning into sensation into words. I say it's physical, but that doesn't really do it justice because it seems to be all of me that leans--body, mind, heart and soul. But I only experience this leaning thing at night, not in the morning, which is why I have to begin my sabbath in the evening as Jews do. Something Peterson says in this week's reading resonates here: We are embedded in time, but time is also embedded in us (68). I wonder: is my leaning a sign of tapping into some kind of temporal DNA?
What have been your experiences with this?
One of Austin Seminary's College of Pastoral Leaders cohorts, we are a group of seven women PC(USA) pastors who love to laugh, pray, play, and study together. And of course, drink margaritas. Here are our musings on Eugene Peterson's books about spiritual theology.
Spirited Women
The Reverends
Tracie Bullis,
Esther Choi,
Ashley Griffith,
Faith Jongewaard,
Donna McClellan,
Laurel Neal,
Shannon Weisenfels
Books
- Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places
- Eat This Book
- The Jesus Way
Reading Schedule
Eat This Book
Week of Nov. 4 - pp. x-11
Week of Nov. 11 - pp. 15-22
Week of Nov. 18 - pp. 23-36
Week of Nov. 25 - pp. 37-58
Week of Dec. 2 - pp. 59-77
Week of Nov. 4 - pp. x-11
Week of Nov. 11 - pp. 15-22
Week of Nov. 18 - pp. 23-36
Week of Nov. 25 - pp. 37-58
Week of Dec. 2 - pp. 59-77
Conference Calls
- December 6, 2007 1:30 p.m. ET
- January 10, 2008 1:30 p.m. ET
- February 7, 2008 1:30 p.m. ET
- March 3, 2008 1:30 p.m. ET
2 comments:
I have a difficult time keeping sabbath in the way that I think that I should. I am very good about taking my day off (Friday), but I am either running errands such as grocery shopping or I tend to veg at home and do nothing. I can't even say that my Fridays are more "spiritual" or worship-ful than my other days because I don't spend extra time reading my Bible or praying.
However, I DO look forward to my Fridays, and Thursday evenings are usually pretty relaxed for me. Like you were describing, Laurel, I have the sense that I am finally at the end of my work week and can relax and "lean" into the next day, knowing that I can sleep in if I want to and not have any set agenda for the next day. Whenever my schedule is thrown off (like when I have a Friday presbytery meeting), it always feels as if my week is unbalanced, out of rhythm, even if I still have Saturday to rest. It's like when our circadian rhythms are changed; our bodies like to be in a predictable pattern, no matter what that pattern or "rhythm" is.
The most significant part of Sabbath for me is the CEASING. I am doing so much the rest of the week that I need to stop, both to refuel and to reorient myself as not the one in charge!
I don't start the night before because I would hedge on when it actually begins and when it actually starts. My rhythm of knowing I have a WHOLE DAY (morning to bedtime in my mind) gives me a sense of release of that day.
Our motto is to "play and pray" which means we seek to reconnect with God - outside, in silence, with good music, with a good book - and both listen and lay our heart out. And we play - meaning we don't do anything we don't want to do and that is not renewing. It gives me great relief to say "no" on my Sabbath when I ask "do I really want to be doing this?" I can just walk away then.
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