Sabbath

From Jeremiah, 17: 21-23

Thus says the Lord: As you love your lives, take care not to carry burdens on the sabbath day, to bring them in through the gates of Jerusalem. Bring no burden from your homes on the sabbath. Do no work whatever, but keep holy the sabbbath, as I commanded your fathers, though they did not listen or give ear, but stiffened their necks so as not to hear or take correction.

I love the Sabbath. It is not about church, or Eucharist, or obligations, it's about golf, the Sunday Funnies, reading the Post all day, drinking tea while watching a movie, a game of whiffle ball, baking brownies, knitting, playing with your cats or dogs. It's about sunshine and clouds and warm breezes, daisies and daffodils and roses. It's about rest, peace of mind, and relaxation.

In a greater sense, this is not just a day for Christians - it is a day for all people! We all need a Sabbath day! Our lives are a maelstrom of tasks and appointments, calenders and meetings. We lose track of time, eat alone, forget to call friends, hardly write real letters anymore, and feel obligated to do more than the guy in the next cubicle.

What foolishness! Why do we give up our lives this way? From a religious standpoint, does God need a Sabbath? Of course not! He's God! Eternal! No beginning and no end - time is a human concept. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. We are told to rest because we cannot be whole when we lead such fragmented lives.

Whatever your faith, beliefs about God, or even if you are an athiest, the lesson holds true - we are never complete unless we make time for ourselves. We need the courage to be free of time and find ourselves. Make that time this weekend and eveery weekend.