Friday, February 13, 2009

Sabbath Rest

"Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the sabbath in honor of the Lord thy God; on it thou shalt not do any work, neither thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." 

I've recently become convicted about working on the Sabbath. God states above, point blank, to rest on the Sabbath. Really--the commander of the universe is asking us to take a break, to take it easy for one day out of seven--how hard should it be? Ha! Hard to remember, but so, so, easy to forget. We have a pressing homework assignment, or want to wash a pair of jeans for Monday, or are just bored and check our email...only to get sucked in to the computer. 

You know, a week is really a rather artificial time unit--nowhere in nature is there a basis for this strange seven days time segment. A day is based on the time it takes for our planet to rotate once--a year is based on the time it takes for our beloved earth to circle the sun. Even a month is based somehow off the lunar cycle--but the week? No graceful participant in the celestial dance marks a week. The week is God-breathed. If even God needed rest, why should we attempt to be "productive" 24-7? God took a break after six days--who are we, his paltry creation, to scorn at that? 
 
One Sunday a few weeks ago I did rest, really rest. It was a very peaceful day. I snuggled with my mom, worked on a cross-stitched sunflower, and maybe cooked something--I don't remember. The point is, I felt rejuvenated. Refreshed. Rested. Ready to joyfully face another week. Why don't you try it this Sunday? Turn off your computer and go for a walk. Enjoy your family. Read that book you've had on your nightstand for the past month. Embrace God's time management. 

4 comments:

Grace Viola said...

Hanna, this is great! And it's something I've been thinking about a lot recently. I have decided to honor the Sabbath by not working and to, like you said, take a walk or spend time with my family.

Hanna said...

Yay!! That's terrific =) Maybe we can keep each other accountable...Although I didn't mention it, I think Tab's college goal thing--what was that name?--really inspired both of us.

Tabitha said...

The profs here in London specifically made our papers due Saturday at midnight so on Sunday we could take the day off and relax, and it's been great! Sundays are such wonderful days now. :)

Nora said...

This was a tidy piece you wrote, Hanna. I like the ideas you mentioned--they are worth mulling over. Keeping the Sabbath is a very intriguing idea, and something I'd like to do (more of) in the future.