Sabbath
I’ll be the first to admit it: I stink at Sabbath. It’s not that I don’t know how to rest or relax or have fun. There are few things I enjoy more, in fact, than playing a game of Hearts or Settlers of Catan or whatever with my kids. It’s just that I don’t do that enough. But it’s not even that. It’s more that if I have an opening of time, my first thought isn’t to rest and to give thanks for the opportunity to rest. Heck, not only is that not my first thought, it’s pretty much my last thought. Instead, the first (second, third, and fourth as well) thing that occurs to me is, “What can I get done?”
I started this blog about three months ago because I wanted a place to write Lenten devotions that anyone could access. I know churches have cut budgets, I know pastors are increasingly busy, I know Bible devotions matter but we don’t find the time, so I thought I’d write a series of Lenten devotions on the Passion story in Mark and post them here so anyone who wanted could read them, get them by email, whatever. And then I decided to write a few posts about stuff that interests me – actually just about everything interests me, but I wanted to practice writing about ordinary, everyday stuff in light of our Christian faith – parenting, movies, books, culture, and more as well as the usual stuff on theology, prayer, and the Bible that you’d expect someone like to me write about.
Turns out that both writing devotions and writing on everyday stuff in light of faith was even more fun than I’d imagined. So I decided to post everyday – actually twice – a devotion and an “everyday faith” post. Except Sundays. On Sundays I’d just post a prayer related to the readings for that day. Most of the time. Sometimes I’d post twice then, too. And on other days occasionally I’d post three times. Well, you can see where this is going: where’s the rest? Where’s the Sabbath? Where’s the break, the chance to stop and listen and not just write prayers but pray, not just write but listen?
Like I said, I stink at Sabbath, at intentionally stopping, resting, pausing, in order to listen, relax, renew. Don’t get me wrong, I like work and I like writing. But it’s easy to get lost in it all, to get caught up trying to meet or exceed a goal (toward what, though) instead of just enjoying the process.
So all of this is a long way of saying that I’m going to stop posting on Sundays. I know, I know, that means they’ll be fewer hits and views and all the stuff I (pathetically) measure myself by. So be it. Humans were not created for Google Analytics alone. 🙂 And while not posting on Sundays isn’t exactly a full-bodied embrace of the Sabbath, it’s a start.
So…thanks for reading, thanks for commenting, thanks for subscribing and sharing and all the rest. And thanks not just for understanding the need for some Sabbath but for enjoying some Sabbath yourself.
D.
Post image: Vincent Van Gogh, Noon Rest from Work (After Millet), 1890, detail
Good for you. We’ll live and maybe learn and pay more attention to our own Sabbaths.
Truth be told, I didn’t read Sunday’s stuff until I got back in the office on Monday- so good on you! Now it’s just a matter of taking that carved out time that you’ve snagged on your Sunday and opening it up to the rest that you crave. Plus, I think you just made everyone that read this article google Settlers of Catan to see what it was all about. I know you got me 🙂
Hooray . . . baby steps.
🙂
Good for you Dr.Lose!
I hope you will take not be afraid to take a few days off from posting/blogging when you take vacation time. We all need time away just to be re-created through rest and relaxation. Thanks you for all that you do for the Church.
Blessings!
Good for you, Dr. Lose! Leslie and I regularly exclaim with wonder at how much you are able to produce through your blog! But we definitely support you in your sabbath! And who knows how taking that Sabbath might open your eyes and heart to even more things to blog about…come Monday. 🙂
How sad is it that already in my first call the world’s call for production and results and programming seems to eat right into my own devotion time. Justifying time to be quiet and still, perhaps read for devotional purposes alone instead of to search for something to share seems so difficult in the midst of trying to impress and convince not only the church but also myself that I am living up to the call they gave me.
I think I just found my own challenge to address this summer…
Thanks, Marie (and Leslie)! What I have to keep reminding myself is what while what we do is important, what we choose not to do matters as well.
I’m glad to hear your thriving, which of course brings it’s own challenges. If you didn’t feel pressed or stretched or challenged to find time to be quiet, that would be worrisome in another way – so it’s a valiant struggle you (we!) are on. Great to hear from you!