This past weekend was filled with mixed emotions…

On Saturday, I was out and about running errands so that I could really enjoy the Sabbath time.  I have trouble winding down & relaxing…always on the go…trying to accomplish something.  These Sabbath periods are teaching me that it is a pleasure to slow down.  I must admit that before I began taking Sabbath, I felt a certain pressure to observe them.  I couldn’t image how I would get things done and still have time to stop, rest, delight and contemplate.  On Saturday evening,  as we lighted the candle, I said a blessing and we read a passage from the Wayne Mueller Sabbath book on “Silence”.

The practice of being “silent” is such a foreign idea to me and started to bring up several thoughts.  I initially wasn’t sure why the idea of  “Silence” was so intimidating to me and then it dawned on me.  My “life grid” has taught me that when people are silent, they are mad.  Silence wasn’t a “welcomed” activity, per se , but a punishment.  I also wondered what  benefits could come out of being silent.

I am learning (albeit slowly), that being silent helps me to refocus, re-center, and to reinvent and create new memories around this profound idea.  Slowing down, being silent, and reflecting can stir up feelings of  “pressure” or “pleasure”, it’s all a matter of ones perspective.  This weekend, I chose to find “pleasure” in being quiet/silent.   It was in those moments of quiet, that I was able to feel God’s peace and care for me…and to begin to embrace this time as truly a gift.

In my “together times” throughout this Sabbath, I was able to really be present.  I wasn’t thinking about my schedule, to do list or what was expected of me this week.  I was simply enjoying being present with Phil and delighting in having fun together, enjoying a meal and sharing our thoughts on whatever subject sprung up.  The rain storm added an extra level of delight as we cozied up under the umbrella and journeyed around Williamsburg together.  The rain reminded me of “refreshment” and how our souls need to be “refreshed” and “cleansed” from all the emotional clutter that builds up in our lives.  In was an invitation to let God “refresh” us.

Another discovery that I learned throughout this weekend was that I will not sign up to take a class during my Sabbath.  Even though I enjoyed the class, it distracted me from truly enjoying this  set apart time.  I didn’t feel it “robbed me”, but it didn’t “add to” my experience this week.  As Pastor Pete was sharing, it took the Israelites 40 yrs to “get it together”, so I am gonna cut myself some slack here and continue learning and discovering and enjoying this gift.

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