Sabbath Day

27 Aug Sabbath Day

Sabbath. Sabbath is an ancient concept that is largely unknown in our fast-paced American culture. In a few weeks I’ll be talking much more about Sabbath because it is actually one of the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment says, “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God……” (Exodus 20:8-10a)

Sabbath is a gift and blessing to us. That’s the tragedy in our non-observance of it. God knows that we need rest—real rest, not pseudo rest—and that is what Sabbath is designed to give us.

Before I preach and teach about Sabbath, I am observing it. I will be on vacation in the cooler climes of Canada when this blog is posted. This is a vacation and a Sabbath I very much need. I am tired. This has been a hard year. My family is in a lot of transition. My house is chaotic because I have the “stuff” of 5 people crammed into my basement as people make moves, prepare to make moves, etc. I don’t do well with a messy house, but I love my family, so I’m coping as best I can.

It’s been a hard summer at Calvary, too: lots of illness, more transition, hospital visits, death. I love this congregation and it is my privilege to be invited into their lives during times of stress and duress. I wouldn’t trade those opportunities for a lifetime supply of dark chocolate—and that’s saying something! But, I can’t be endlessly available without taking time to be renewed and refreshed myself. Sabbath does that. Vacations do that. I am grateful for God’s good gift of Sabbath.

I hope you will take some Sabbath time as well. It’s a gift God is inviting you to unwrap.

Yours for the Kingdom,

Michelle