Saturday was such a beautiful day! The sun was shining and it was so warm on the back deck. We got up in the morning and decided that today would be a Sabbath time for us. We did not listen to the radio; scan Facebook; or turn on the TV. Instead we pulled out the patio chairs and picked up a favourite book. What a blessing! Sitting in the sun, relaxing in the wonder of the day, it felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket and embraced in love. Just what the doctor ordered!
Sabbath Time
Despite the isolation and physical distancing that we are currently experiencing I think that these Sabbath times are probably scarce for most. In some ways we have taken a step back. We are not driving as often as we used to; perhaps we are not spending as much on eating out; we are not going to the mall and we are not racing from point A to point B desperately trying to fit everything into a 24 hour time slot. However:
we are glued to the radio or TV or Facebook or other social media platforms.
We are consumed with the latest statistics, updates from our officials and conversations about how long we will be in this space.
We wonder about the best time to head out for groceries and where is the best place to get what we need.
For some of us we are getting a steady diet of Zoom meetings and gatherings, which on the one hand is wonderful, and on the other extremely draining.
So while we are not doing the “normal” things we used to, our minds and spirits are running at light speed and I suspect that we are feeling tired.
The voices of the ancestors remind us of the importance of staying grounded in the midst of our doing. It is only when we stop and take time to allow our hearts and minds to rest that our spirits can be fed and our energy renewed.
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did .. (Hebrews 4:9)
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)
“Be still, and know that I am God; (Psalm 46:10)
In this strange time, my prayer for each of you is that you will find that space for Sabbath time. Turn off the noises of the world and the voices that clamour for you attention. Find a place to curl up and read a book, or listen to your favourite music or sing yourself the songs that touch your soul. Or simply sit and listen in the silence of the moment and open yourself to the calming presence of spirit.
May it be so.
Blessings
Valerie
© 2020 Rev. Valerie Peyton Kingsbury. All rights reserved.