A Reflection: Sabbath Rest and Living in the Present Moment

As we approach our time of Sabbath rest and renewal, Denise and I have been spending evenings and mornings discussing what lies ahead. The funny thing is that we don’t know exactly what is ahead of us. Yes, spending time with my dad in Minnesota is a part of this time. Finishing the work that still needs to be done to close Denise’s parents estates is a part of this time. But what about our daily activities? What about our calendars? I realize that I have spent almost 35 years in ministry working according to someone else’s calendar or expectations. As a mother, wife, volunteer, and worker, Denise has spent many years working/living according to someone else’s calendar or expectations.

We don’t know what the lessons from this time of Sabbath rest will be. And we continue to be in awe of the fact that these two planners aren’t worried at all about an unknown future. As our prayer and reflection time continue to deepen, we are excited about this unknown future and what God has in store for us as She guides us along the path.

The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and the Rev, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr invited people to take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

As we take the first steps and as the church takes their first steps in the unfolding journey, I offer this quote from Thomas Merton:

You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope. — (Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander)

Wherever you are in your journey dear reader, may you find the blessings of the present moment. As Thich Nhat Hanh once said, the present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.