Sabbath-time of Rest

 

Sabbath Time Brings Rest & Restoration

“So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation”[1]. These are familiar words from Genesis. God rested, but we humanoids find it hard, or don’t always understand the meaning of “God resting.” The truth is,  God was tired! There are two words in this scripture that should speak to us as we think about sabbath time: Work[ing] and Creation[ing].

It takes a lot of work to be creative, whether it is God or humanoids, and Sabbath is meant to be a day, or lengthy period of time, for REST from whatever defines our WORK lives. The tradition of the Sabbath comes from our Jewish siblings of practicing Shabbat, which falls on Saturday, and the word literally meaning “rest”; so, the greeting of Shabbat Shalom translates into “peaceful rest.” In the Christian world the concept of Sabbath has fallen onto Sunday in recognition of the “Day of Resurrection”.

In our current times, we are all weary and at times overwhelmed by the pressures within our lives. Our creativity is being drained. In addition to feeling overworked at times, there are the ongoing issues whether personal and/or media generated! It is family issues, COVID issues, political issues, work issues, health issues, etc. Sabbath time offers us the opportunity to step away from the frenzy of our lives and to find a way to be reenergized/restored. The practice of sabbath time is intentional and regular, any day of the week, as it fits one’s schedule.

How is sabbath time structured? Ruth Haley Barton from her book, Sacred Rhythms, makes this offering:

           [Do] “whatever delights you and replenishes you.”[2]

 

Resting the body. The invitation of sabbath time is to replace the time you would normally spend working with activities that you find restorative: a nap, a walk, a bike ride, a long bubble bath, eating your favorite foods (no dieting on the sabbath), sitting in the sun, listening to beautiful music.

 

Replenishing the spirit. Another invitation of the sabbath is to pay attention to what replenishes the spirit and choose only those activities that renew you and bring you joy. Usually television and most things technological [social media] are not really replenishing. . . read a book for pleasure. . ., [a novel, a mystery, poetry, etc.]

Restoring the soul. Perhaps the deepest refreshment is the invitation to renew the soul through worship and quiet reflection. . . you may be able to spend some extra time in silence and prayer, take a slow meditative walk, . . .journal about your week. . .open your home to family and friends [for a meal]

 Sabbath time is different for everyone, but the common prayer for of us, says:

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills . . .[3]

Sabbath time offers that restoration of our minds, creative imaginations, and putting our wills into perspective.

            God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it! And, hallowed your Sabbath Time!

---

[1] Holy Bible; NRSV, Genesis 2:3-4

[2] Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton, pp 142-144; bracketed items are the writer’s thoughts

[3] Book of Common Prayer; #61 A Prayer of Self-Dedication; pp 83

[This text was prepared for the Trinity Cathedral weekly commentary of July 6, 2023]

Collage of Self

 Self Made Collage

I am the one who,

Through the ruins of time,
Still stands like a worn temple column,
I am the one who,
Decades have worn away true self,
While, light mirrors today's self within sacred arches,
I am the one who,
Rises to breathe light into the heavens,
Collaged with fresh filled grace,
I am the one who,
Today,

Here living in present time!

[This reflection comes from a "Soul Collage" exercise during the Deacon's retreat of 2023; the photo is the panel which I created during the exercise.]

Yes to God

 Yes and Now to God!

YES, Yahweh’s voice vibrates creation,

Hearing YES as healing energy abounds soulfully,

Yahweh’s call needs responding NOW!

[This Haiku reflection is from a conversation with a Clergy friend of how one response to God. How do we say “yes” when called upon?]

Walking Journey

 

Mother and Child in Motion

Feet moving without body motion,
Toes steady within shoes but no muscle action,
Escalator controls the motion,
Guatemalan refugees seeking asylum,
With feet running from abuse,
Now walking roads toward freedom,
Up and down with rocky terrain,
Walking on mechanical device,
Walking a top clouds by airplane,
New freedom,
Nogales Sonora Mexico,
Tucson AZ to Seattle WA,
"Oh Say Can You See",
The American dream!

[This reflection comes from an experience that Kathleen had while escorting a woman and her daughter from Tucson AZ, via Nogales (Sonora), to Seattle WA at the beginning of May 2022. This type of travel would be NEW to this woman and her daughter.]

Chirping with Senses

 "Chirping with Senses"

Audio senses awakened with chirping sounds before open doors,

Morning has broken,

Door opens,

Walk in motion begins,

Cool air refreshes skin of exposed face and arms,

Caffeine to the lips,

Thorns in the way of fragrant roses,

Step into the temple of brightly colored glass of sacred images,

Kneel before “I AM WHO I AM”,

Coffee hidden then cleaned away,

Labored sacred actions for temple readied to smile with YHWH,

Legs in motion as body heat rises,

Footing on gravel penetrate shoes,

Big gravel form sitting on Camelback mountain,

Senses are chirped through walk rhythm.

[Reflection is based upon a retreat exercise for Deacon postulants. The assignment was to walk the grounds of "The Franciscan Renewal Center" to awaken the senses in a morning walk on June 26, 2022. The "Big gravel form" is the praying monk. The rose is from the garden at the retreat center, who at one time was full of roses, and now is mixed with roses and other garden beauties.]

Wagging Tongue

 

“Wagging Tongue”

That muscle between teeth,

Tongue it is called,

Like a vertebrae animal, whose tail wags of many meanings,

Tongue flaps in many forms and meanings,

Curled to lap water for hydration,

Taste buds sensing the delectable and sour,

It wags words of Hopeful Joy,

It wags words of Hateful Helplessness,

It filters air to cleanse the soul,

It filters air to excite the body cells to wholeness,

It filters air when breathing the gift of life,

Tongue Wagging aliveness!

[Reflection evolved from a poem entitled "My Breath is the Gift of Life" from the book The Black Trans Prayer Book with the opening line of "the power of life and death lies in the tongue"]

Binary at Ground Zero

 

"Ground Zero"

Binary formation Zero and One,

Zero flipped to One ignites a beginning,

One rotates circular Zero,

United into emptiness a hole of pain,

One space One name,

Zero formed into Square flowing water,

Washing away pain,

Washing away death,

Binary formation One and Zero,

Zero a point to start,

One is starting point,

In the beginning God created Ground Zero,

Then pointed to Binary One,

And it was Good!

[Reflection is based upon a visit to the "Ground Zero" memorial in NYC in the first part of October 2021; the feelings go beyond the normal ying/yang essence; names are etched on black granite; the mixture of sadness and hope is melt in the water fall of the square sculpture]