It’s Sunday today. In the age-old Christian tradition and around here that means a day a little less like the others with a focus on rest.
In his growing up years, my husband’s memories of Sundays recall 2 church services, morning and evening, a delicious roast beef lunch, sometimes afternoon visits with other families but more often hours spent bored to tears. That is, Sundays meant not doing the things little boys like to do; mainly running around in rambuctious play. By the time I came along, he was well out of the habit of doing little and his Sundays looked much like other days of the week. So did mine. Now that we are middle age and value a slower pace, we also see the value in setting aside one day a week that really is a little different.
When I read about Jesus’ thoughts on Sabbath, which indicate that people were not made for it rather that it was made for them, I wonder what activities are appropriate for this day. What is restful for my body and soul? I try not to make it about what I don’t do but what I do do. I go to church because I love to worship God. Being there with my church family is restful and refreshing in the same moment. Listening to my pastor encourage me in my faith is a source of great joy and rest for me. Getting outside and letting the wonder of creation fill me with gratitude and awe is restful. So is sharing a meal with loved ones. Sometimes creating is restful so I incorporate some of that in a Sunday. Singing is also restful and so I make time to sing and listen to music. Someone I know places a twisted piece of driftwood shaped together by three separate and distinct parts into one on his dining room table on Sundays to remind him of the Godhead, three in one: Father, Son and Spirit. It’s a good idea and prompted me to keep a lighted candle on a central table as a reminder of the same.
In this day and age of hurry up and go, go, go, I wonder how each of you finds rest for your soul. I pray that this day is the day you discover true rest in a peaceful and rejuvenating relationship with our Creator.
Shalom, friends.
