Sabbath…

“Remember the Sabbath Day and treat it as holy.” (Exodus 20:8 CEB)

“On the sixth day God completed all the work that he had done, and on the seventh day God rested from all the work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all the work of creation.” (Genesis 2:2-3 CEB)

Back in the early days of the church, the Sabbath was set apart from Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown. The early Christians were, after all, Jewish Christians and they kept much of their Jewish heritage and faith structure intact. It wasn’t until sometime later (probably after they had been kicked out of the synagogues) that they changed the Sabbath day to Sunday, the day the disciples found the empty tomb and discovered that Jesus had risen from the dead. “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb.” (Matthew 28:1)

Sabbath has been everything from a point of legalistic requirement to something largely ignored by today’s society. My first assignment as a Chaplain Candidate, Second Lieutenant was at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas. I remember well the struggle they had at the Commissary (on-base grocery store) when they began opening before noon. That was a huge issue in the Bible belt since Sunday morning was reserved for chapel/church attendance and some of the workers were told they had to work on Sunday mornings. It was encroaching on their time for worship and honoring the Lord and they let the management know about it (to no avail as the store remained open at 10 am on Sunday).

Sabbath has always been a bit of a struggle for those of us who are clergy types. And before you begin with the jokes about preachers working one hour of one day of the week, don’t… I have heard them all. I can tell you one thing, it is seldom about only the preaching hour and the worship service. I remember during my first assignment on Active duty at Sheppard AFB being rousted from my bed at 5 am by a call from the Law Enforcement Desk to report to their holding cell. It didn’t matter that I had to lead worship and preach at 8:30 am, I was the on-call Chaplain and I responded to provide pastoral care to an Airman in need.

But this blog is not a time for the Padre to whine about how unfair life is for preachers. What this blog is about is a warning to said preachers and to others who pack their lives so full of activity that they fail to take time out to, in the words of Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that God is Lord.” When was the last time you took time to spend with God? And I don’t mean the hour you might give on Sunday morning either. When was the last time you spent serious time with the One who created you… the One who loves you… the One who wants a relationship with you.

Denise and I spend time each morning, before I head to the office, in prayer. We share Scripture readings, Sacred readings, and prayer time together. These moments are indeed holy for us and if we don’t begin the day in this way due to scheduling issues, the day just doesn’t seem to go as well. These are sacred, Sabbath-like moments for us. Yet I can tell you from personal experience if this is all you do, at least for me, the well will quickly run dry.

After going through some particularly rough struggles personally and professionally, the well was running seriously dry for me. I had been neglecting the Sabbath time that refreshes my soul. Time had become taken up by meetings, agendas, church issues, and the like. I can tell you that I was in dire need of some spiritual refreshment. Last Sunday, following Sunday School, Worship, and offering Communion to a local congregation without a Presbyterian Pastor, I had a visitation at the church for an individual who had been a member of the church. After that, I had a Personnel Committee meeting. On Monday I conducted the funeral and after the graveside, family visitation time and a hospital visit to another parishioner, I came home mentally, spiritually, and physically exhausted. Yes, the Padre was in dire need of some spiritual refreshment.

Thankfully, this week has provided an opportunity for that refreshment. We are in North Georgia for the wedding of Denise’s niece. On the way up, we stopped in Conyers, Georgia to visit The Monastery of the Holy Spirit (a Cistercian monastic house) where our dear friend Carl McColman is a lay associate. It was a delightful visit and we enjoyed visiting with one of the monks at the bookshop and went to Midday Prayer in the Abbey. After that, we made our way to Helen, Georgia where we had a cabin reserved for the long weekend (the front porch is pictured at the top of the blog).

After a good night’s sleep, Denise and I awoke to spend the day relaxing and reading. It truly was holy time for both of us. I was reading a book that I had purchased at the Monastery bookstore (The Non-Violent Cross: A Theology of Revolution and Peace by James W. Douglass) and Denise was reading another book (Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison by Piper Thurman which is an incredibly compelling read). Before we knew it, hours had passed and we had enjoyed a time of refreshment and inspiration. It was exactly what the “doctor” had ordered! During our time on the mountain, we know that God will bless and comfort us. We also know that God will provide a time of refreshment and renewal for us. This would not have happened though, if we hadn’t listened to that “still, small voice” that was calling us to remember this Sabbath period and make it holy.

Dear reader, are you frantic and frazzled by the cares of work and the world? Are your spiritual batteries drained and in need of recharging? God is calling you to take a Sabbath break and simply be in God’s presence. You don’t have to go to the North Georgia mountains to do this, although I would highly recommend a place set apart like this! Are you taking regular Sabbath rests to be still in the presence of God? If you aren’t, you are missing out on something phenomenally special. Take a lesson from this Padre who seems to be a slow learner! Don’t wait until your brain and your spirit are both fried to seek the Lord’s presence. Jesus is calling you… answer his call.

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus calls us… “Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Don’t wait until you are parched and dry. God is calling you to spend time in the divine presence. Jesus is calling you to share your burdens with him. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me For I am gentle and humble in Spirit and you will find rest for your soul. My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

In the quiet and the stillness, you will indeed hear the voice of the Lord calling you. You will hear God’s call upon your life and God’s direction for your life will be renewed or revealed. However, in order for this to happen, you have to take your Sabbath time and make it holy. Be still and know… God will meet you wherever you are. Of this fact I am certain, dear reader! Simply come…