Tuesday Tidbits: Sabbath
April 12, 2011 § Leave a Comment
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In Deuteronomy, the commandment to “observe” the Sabbath day is tied to the experience of a people newly released from bondage. Slaves cannot take a day off; free people can.
- from Practicing our Faith: A Way of Life for Searching People by Dorothy C. Bass
How often we treat the concept of Sabbath as a rule to be followed, rather than a luxury to be enjoyed. What other God-given luxuries do you treat as shackles? How can you change your practice to transform your experience?
Weekend #2
August 28, 2009 § 2 Comments
So begins the meat of my workweek — the weekend. It’s really interesting having a backward week. Right now, my “weekend” is Tuesday/Wednesday. Which really makes things interesting dealing with our retreat groups. I can’t tell you how many phone calls and e-mails I got over the “weekend” of Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s going to be an interesting thing to juggle, being sure I’m in communication with these people as often as possible but still taking time for myself.
Right now, I don’t really have a Sabbath time. It’s not like I have ever been very good at taking Sabbath time, but I know, theoretically, that it’s an important part of a minister’s life. But I’m happiest when I’m busy. I feel worthless if I’m just sitting around with nothing to do for a long period of time.
I started re-reading Harry Potter this summer during rest period, and I think that was good for me. It’s a little harder to find that kind of time now, though, because while I’m at work, I’m … working. And when I’m at home, I’m spending time with Will watching TV (right now catching up on LOST) or playing games.
I don’t want to lose the theological interest that I had during seminary, so I want to keep reading, but I also have a hard time spending money on books at this point.
And here I go, whining instead of celebrating what God is doing in my life.
On that note, I was walking across camp today to check on a cabin. I looked out over the river, past the pier, toward the ferry as it was crossing, and I realized how amazing my life is. I absolutely LOVE my job. I really do! It’s an amazing ministry, in an even more amazing piece of Creation. How blessed am I that I get to go to this “office” every day?
I love when my staff get here too. I love the fact that they’re willing to give up a weekend of college life to come here and make a difference in the lives of others. Others they don’t even know. They just know that this place has changed them, and there is something special about it. Really special.
I know how much a place like this changed me. It’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. So I couldn’t be more blessed to get to work with these young people and see their experience, much like mine, that may be changing their lives or the lives they’re encountering over a weekend.
God is SO Good. All the time.
