How Do You Do Sabbath Time?

[GordW]

That is the question I asked in my most recently written newsletter piece.

Some might think that this is a topic for R&F but imo the importance of sabbath time has far more to do with health than with religious observance. In fact I think that is why the precept made it into Scripture in the first place (it is my opinion that most of the laws in Torah have a basis in maintaining the health of individuals and communities).

Here is my newsletter piece:
http://ministerialmutterings.blogspot.ca/2014/07/july-newsletter.html

 

[Carolla]

Great piece Gord. I wish you well with your plan to actually disconnect from 'work life' soon!

I used to love that about going to the cottage - no schedule, nothing that really HAD to be done - playing games with the kids, building forts in the woods, going looking for crayfish in the stream, doing jigsaw puzzles (until the kids would beg for me to make them some food!) reading luxuriously, having an afternoon nap, listening to the rain & summer storms ... wondering when the power would come back on. Eventually my Dad put a TV in - which in some ways was nice, but overall, I preferred the time without it. We no longer have the cottage, but it was so memorable.

In present day - I've just returned from 3 weeks in Newfoundland - a trip designed to see the icebergs - and that we did! I found the people there never to be in a big rush - always taking time to say hello & have a chat, to value each contact in some special way ... we could learn from that. Although I take my little netbook computer with me when I travel, I never look at anything work related - I'm quite disciplined about that. I like to use it to download my photos at the end of each day, post a few to facebook for my friends & family to enjoy, to write my journal, and explore possibilities for the next day's adventure. Although I have a cell phone, I'm a minimal user at the best of times & only had a text or two from the (now grown) kids while away - birthday greetings, father's day messages for my mate.

There really is such a culture of busyness & need to be connected though - I lament this. I too think it is unhealthy.

 

[Carolla]

interesting lack of responses so far ...

 

[Naman]

interesting lack of responses so far ...

Times change. I find the sabbath today is much different to what it was when I was young. I have just done a little studying on the history and significance of the sabbath. To some extent it signifies release from bondage (to the Egyptians). But now it seems that pretty much anything and everything goes on Sunday.

Do we really need the Sabbath now that we have the internet?

 

[revjohn]

That is the question I asked in my most recently written newsletter piece.

I would hope that the practice of Sabbath doesn't change from season to season. What might happen on a Sabbath could change from season to season but the practice of observing a Sabbath shouldn't.

My trip to NL will be more of an extended and intense Sabbath. It will decelerate what Southern Ontario appears bent on accelerating. It will help me to practice resisting the urge to fill time with busyness.

Ordinarily my Sabbath is always unhurried. If I am obligated in some way, because of the communal busyness, to be here or there I take my sweet time getting there. I do not arrive late, I tend to leave for the appointment earlier and take more scenic routes. I find something to marvel at or wonder about. I don't care if others would find it marvelous or wonderful the point is I do and I take the time to do so.

I think my tendency towards introversion is an asset in this regard.

I can do solitude and it invigorates me.

Others in my family need to be with others and that ramps up the pace of life. So much to do and so little time to do it in becomes a common refrain.

There is so much packed into Creation the size of a thumbnail yet we creatures don't appear to understand that to milk something means you aren't constantly wringing it dry.

 

[GordW]

Times change. I find the sabbath today is much different to what it was when I was young. I have just done a little studying on the history and significance of the sabbath. To some extent it signifies release from bondage (to the Egyptians). But now it seems that pretty much anything and everything goes on Sunday.

Do we really need the Sabbath now that we have the internet?

What does Sabbath mean? Does it mean a day or is it a state of mind/being? I vote for the latter. ANd I submit that with the level of connectivity we now have we need that state of mind/being more than ever.

 

[GGecko]

I think Sabbath is a state of mind/being, at least it is for me. I enjoy solitude, withdrawing from the busyness of life, and that is how I renew my spirit when life gets overwhelming. I'm looking forward to a family visit next week and it will be busy with many adults and children at the cottage, but I will find time for a solitary walk or a paddle in my kayak. I attended church this morning then came home, loaded up the kayak and headed for the nearby river. I was able to get very close to a great blue heron. I'm going to Newfoundland for 3 weeks and have deliberately chosen to stay in a cabin in an outport community, to rest, relax, detach and enjoy whatever each day brings. Hopefully I get to spend some time with whales, because that time is precious for spiritual healing.

 

[ChemGal]

I've been taking a fair bit of time off, I don't know if I would consider it Sabbath Time.
I think I do need to be a bit more mindful of what I'm doing. It's easy for hours to pass on the internet.
Gardening has been healthy for me when I don't push it. It's easier to be mindful of the time - after a while in the heat I need to stop so hours don't fly by. I feel like less of a lazy bum
I need more activities like that when the weather isn't cooperating or physically I'm not up to it.
Today, I needed a nap it got interrupted with phone calls. I can't just fall back asleep easily, so I goofed off on the net for a while. There are probably better activities than that.

The health workshop I did a while ago probably fit well into Sabbath Time. Community, a focus on self-awareness and healing, and not bumming around on the internet in my PJs with unwashed hair

 

[crazyheart]

The church that deals in Sabbath are sometimes the worst one for making sure employees take Sabbath Time .Some churches 's expectation is that ministry personnel should work every day.