A short while back I posted some thoughts about the Sabbath and how we tend to glaze over it (go here, here, and here to read more) . I also contemplated what it should look like in my contemporary lifestyle, and I committed myself to putting my musings into practice. I don't want to be just another person who harps and rants about all the things everyone is doing wrong, and then do nothing to change my own deficits. So here's an update, so to speak.
That first Sunday after I posted, my plan was to come home after church and lunch to rest, reflect, nap, pray, and ultimately focus solely on God. No grocery shopping, no folding clothes or ironing, no doing dishes or other chores...no computer (!!!).
I was discussing my plans with a friend over lunch that day and told her what my plans were to do and not to do. She gently reminded me that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).
I pondered this, and ended up lifting a few of my restrictions. Was I being too ritualistic and Pharisee-like by trying to avoid all those things? Honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe I was. But I think my intentions were true. On the modern flip-side, what does it look like to rest in the LORD on His day? Is it still ok for me to be on facebook? Hang out with friends? Bake cookies simply for the sheer joy of baking?
Weeks later, these are questions I still ponder. Perhaps the ultimate question is this: Is what I'm doing distracting me from thinking of/speaking to/being with God?
Needless to say, I have not been successful at adopting monk-like behaviors on Sundays. I still facebook, drive across town to visit friends, and bake stuff just because I want to. I also don't always get my laundry folded and put away on Saturday, which requires finishing on Sunday so I have clothes to wear to work on Monday. A couple times I've even spent my afternoons shopping to stock the food pantry or buy things for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.
While I have been making a conscious effort to take a few small steps toward observing the Sabbath, I sure haven't been overly successful. I kind of like the way I'm doing things now, but I'm not convinced my patterns are the most honoring to the LORD. I still have some work to do.
There's a part of me that finds appealing those monk-like behaviors of silence and solitude. I'm a far cry from that now, but maybe one of these days I'll get there.
3 comments:
Wow! These are things that I have struggled and wrestled with too. Especially being married to a farmer(and having grown up on a farm). It's so easy to see Sunday as another day to work on things! I'm with ya, you aren't the only one! THanks for your thoughts!
I think as long as you make time for God, it does not really matter what day it is on. Look at Mt 12:1-8 and Lk 13:10-17. I think as long as we have time to give to God in rest and reflection we have obeyed the sabbath.
Jennifer - I grew up on a farm as well, and farming is NOT an 8-5 job. Seems like a lot of farmers will be out in the fields on Sundays if the weather permits so they can get the job done. I was blessed to have parents who observed Sundays as a day of rest - we went to Church, came home and had lunch, napped all afternoon, and went back to Church at night. I didn't realize until lately how foundational that was for me.
Matt - I agree with that. When I worked as a youth worker, the pastor continually encouraged me to observe my Sabbath on a different day because I was working so hard on Sundays. It's the intentional observance of time and reflection that I usually leave out.
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