The Sabbath

It was reinforced in a Chapel today, one I appreciated, that making the Sabbath a day of rest is more than a good idea, maybe even a life saver, for my college career and my life.

Earlier this summer a friend challenged me to consider what it would be like to make for myself a day or specific time of rest. I realized (like I've been realizing about a lot of things) that this requires THINKING. So I'm thinking.

What does it mean to rest on the sabbath? It will probably be tailor-made for me. What do I like?

It will require discipline. It's something I want to do, but don't want to. (Like going to bed at night - life is still to be lived and it's hard so hard to give it up!) Who doesn't want an entire DAY off? It's like forced vacation!! (Only you have to force yourself.)

Sabbath is Hebrew and means, "to cease, rest, stop."

Sabbath Keeping, doing it, will give me a day to fight the messages of culture to justify myself. I can take the chance to live in reality, "refocus," throw off the weekly accumulating burdens (till I learn to do it day-by-day) - realize my worth comes from God, and not from what I do. This will need to be hammered into my head at least once a week to get it down, so might as well set a whole day apart for it.

I will get just as much done, I'll just consider Saturday my last day to accomplish work. My friend said when she was in school, she took this time off, and noticed all the poor people who sat in the library on Sundays. she got work done just as much as they, but came back fresh Monday morning. It's partially a matter of time-management and focus.

It's mostly a cessation of production.

It's a chance to learn a sense of your call - you know how often stop to wonder "what am I doing, really" - well Sundays can be taken for spending time on that. I won't expect to get answers on the go.

What's this about "drive-in-prayer" offered by some churches??? About every word of that is WRONG somehow.

The Sabbath is, at any rate, part of the balance and rhythm God planned for us initially. God modeled it for us initially with creation; Christ's devotional life would be worth studying - you remember all the times he went into quiet places alone to pray, usually before or after something really really important. He lived an active life, but wasn't "there for everyone" who wanted him. I don't need to be "there for everyone" even if it's the social thing to do...especially if i'm not made or am going through stuff - tho I feel guilty for being otherwise... Jesus resisted the urgent in favor of the important. Eh?

This was good - John Ortberg asked his mentor, "What can I do to be spiritually healthy?" and the only thing the guy would answer was, pause, "Ruthlessly eliminate hurry." - selah.

This clicks right in with thoughts on eternity and living in time, feeling like moments are never quite lived...more on that sometime. (Or read A Severe Mercy)

This is my own though. I've thought it a long time. Being busy is a lie - lie lie lie - fallacy - ad hom - you know. "I'm busy" is a great and true excuse, but think about what really means (first off, its utilization for when you don't want to go on a date...or "hang out" with some irritating person) - for me, it's that whatever I'm excusing myself from is of less priority than where i'm spending that time. sometimes, what I really mean is, "oh sorry, I can't that day, b/c I'm not busy and it needs to stay that way." LIE EXPELLED. And gassed (like we need to do to the Wheaton football players in the dining room). :P

Books - Keeping the Sabbath Wholly
The Sense of the Call - A Sabbath way of Life

I have yet to be at school during a Sunday, however... pray for me...