Okay, so I saw a video clip of Lauren Winner recently talking about the Sabbath. One of my publishers, Paraclete Press, published her book MUD HOUSE SABBATH, which she promoted with said video. Sabbath keeping has always eluded me. Like, when exactly does it begin? And when is it over? Does the whole "no work" thing mean you don't have to wash your dishes? I'm just sayin'. What did God do on his day of rest?Of course, most of the details about Sabbath keeping--save exactly what God did--are all things that are easy to find out, if I were remotely interested in doing that on today, and sadly, I am not. But I did latch on to one thing Lauren said: to do something you enjoy. That I can handle.
On this cool Saturday, in the rain's aftermath, I'm resting in the best way I know how to, at least at the moment. I am doing nothing in particular. Now and then, I lift some prayers to my Beloved. I read a bit, sitting here in my bright blue, orange in pink undies, with no desire to put real clothes on, and I CANNOT believe I told you I've spent most of the day in my draws. I'm watching a movie on Lifetime, Lying to Be Pefect. It's about an insecure, fat woman who pretends to be someone else so she can write for the magazine she works for, and ends up taking her own alter ego's advice, losing weight, and becoming fabulous, only to realize she was fabulous all along. I'm ridiculously into it, which just goes to show you...
It's very painful to type. I have the misfortune of having carpal tunnel in both hands and wrists, so I can't do much work on the computer. But it's oddly very difficult to just stop all my cyber piddling, and even real writerly work, to simply rest my hands, just for a week! But sometimes doing nothing is the better part, even if you're not sitting at the feet of Jesus absorbing every word he says, but rather, watching television with him, and resting your mind. And um, your hands, except to write a short blog. Hey, give me a minute to get used to the idea.
Okay, enough typing. OUCH!
How is your Sabbath day, my dear friends?
love,
mair-francis
6 comments:
I'm enjoying it - it's all about food today - buying, cooking and eating it! Rest well and I hope your hands heal soon. Dare I say, some of us need you here, I think.
I told a dear friend about Mudhouse Sabbath just last night. She is new to the Sabbath keeping thing. I have been doing it for many years. And for me, it does mean that I don't do dishes or laundry or vacuum or shop or do many other things on the Sabbath - which I celebrate on Sunday.
That is a great book that explains many wonderful truths about setting one day apart as a day of deep rest, body, mind, and spirit. And wrists... Whenever my carpal tunnel flares up, I put on my braces, put down my pen (I still keep my journal by hand), and give myself, my hands, and my restless mind some rest.
As for the movie, rock on, girl. It sounds like a good one to veg out with.
Thinking of you and praying for you tons.
Gail
I found this week's blog post to be unexpectedly refreshing. I find your posts to be a blessing every time, but what I mean is: I'm a regular Sabbath "keeper" who wasn't so sure if she knew what she was doing anymore. Growing up and remembering the Sabbath was one less thing to keep me off the path to hell "in a hand basket." I've been questioning and pondering everything spiritual thing in my life lately and this is one particular topic that I've been talking to God about at length. It was the perfect setup for me to find your blog on THIS day when I question so much. Your post was God's way of reminding me (Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus) that rest is not a state of doing but a state of being (abiding). I can be at rest in Christ all the time and not just one day a week. Sabbath rest is not about trying to find the appropriate dos and don'ts in a 24 hour period in order to meet a salvation requirement (I'm in no way saying it is, but the lean towards legalism in my denomination is almost magnetic at times). I think your post appealed to me most because of the simplicity of your taking the time to be with God regardless of the "activity." In my church sometimes we are working so hard at keeping the sabbath it's like we've pulled a full day's work. I'm looking for the time clock to punch in and out, and lately I've been running from service so that I can really rest. The Sabbath has always been about meeting God in the garden and having quiet time Him. It's about the relationship. My Sabbath is restful today. :0)Thanks for the awesome reminder.
Quite honestly, I don't feel right about taking a Sabbath until I first learn how to work!
Anyway...
I picked up a book this weekend called Pray All Ways.
It has in it the Prayer of Napping. When we sleep, we are saying, "God can run the world without me." The author says we should post signs that say Christian Sleeping/ God at Work.
I think the same idea applies to any kind of rest. So ask yourself what will fall apart if you rest your wrists for a week. Maybe God has something else planned for you to do, or not do. And maybe He has other plans for getting what He needs done done.
These are some lovely insights, ladies. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts and Sabbath rituals--or un-rituals.
i do think that is the tricky thing our brains tell us...if we "sabbath" we have to spend the whole day with Jesus...kinda all of a sudden aware of him like a great friend at our coffee table but then as the day goes on and we are bored
i like the idea of setting the day aside to refuel my soul/spirit and do only that which brings the joy and healing.
i like KayDay's idea of the Prayer of Napping...it is true, God will run the world if i am awake or not..i can rest and be productive later.
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