Sabbath Rest

Rest. It is not only a blessing but a commandment--probably one of the most overlooked one in our culture. While the average Joe wouldn't dream of murder, condone adultery or consider a life of thievery, we easily overlook the command to "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy".

In our busy world of 24/7 operations at work and at home, it is easy to lose track of the need (and the command) for rest. The church I attend offers services on Friday nights, Saturday nights and twice Sunday mornings, to accomodate our crazy schedules, making it virtually impossible to use the excuse, " I can't get to church." So, we get to church, but, do we rest--and what does it look like to "keep it holy"?

To be holy is to be set apart. To keep the sabbath holy is to have a time that is set apart from the daily hubub that is our lives. A time to sit back, rest from our labor, reflect on our lives and make sure we are enjoying the fruit of our labor as well as keeping our priorities intact. I struggle with the concept as I believe many of us do. But I am struck again with the thought that it's not just a good idea, it's one of the 10 commandments. God thought it important enough to include it in his top 10 things he considered not negotiable. This is not David Letterman, but, God. Perhaps we need to take this rest thing a little more seriously? Did I mention that God, Himself, rested on the seventh day? Who am I to think it's not necessary for me?

I don't know how to make this happen. I don't know that it has to be Sunday. I don't know that it needs to be the "letter of the law" or if it can be the "spirit of the law" to be right. I don't know how to get from overbooked to a life at rest. I don't think there are six simple rules to get there, but, I do think I need to get there. If I can't start with an entire day, I can surely start with an hour.

Maybe in that hour, I can determine how to stretch an hour into a morning, or an afternoon. Perhaps then, I will see more clearly the benefit and the blessing and can figure out how to make it work for an entire day. I don't know. I just know that it's a command, and I need to start somewhere. So here I am at the starting line, waiting for the gun to signal the race has begun. It's not the first time I've been here, but, you have to start to finish the race. So, I am ready to begin again to grasp the importance of this Sabbath rest deal.

Beginning again, and grateful for the grace that allows fresh starts.