By Susan W. N. Ruach, Ed.D.
Sometimes when I am out leading groups, I say to them, “Do you think God was serious about the third commandment? ‘Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy’.” And I find it fascinating that I can think in my mind that God is certainly serious about that commandment at the same time forgetting to observe it. But then we all know that guilt is not the best motivator in the world.
A friend and colleague who is now deceased, told me when I was young in the ministry, “You know, Susan, I’ve found that I can get as much done in six days with a day off as I can in seven with no day off.” I have thought of that so many times, and when I have practiced it, I have always proved him right. Of course sadly, I have not always practiced it.
Sabbath is an opportunity to remember that God is in charge and not me. It helps us assess our level of trust in God. Do we trust God more than we trust our own energy and ability?
For me now, Sabbath needs to have these elements:
1) Attending to one’s relationship with God (worship is a good possibility here, or prayer) and wasting some time with God.
2) Taking sensual delight in the good gifts of creation through the sense God has given us (a fire in the fireplace, a flower, the green of grass, the smile of a loved one, a favorite food)
3) Enjoying family and/or friends and spending time with them
4) Doing things that feed one’s own soul
5) Silence in some form or another
6) Rest (a nap, sitting reading a book, gazing at the earlier mentioned fire, etc.)
Recently I had a bout of the stomach flu—the 24 hour kind for which the main symptoms don’t last long, but it takes several days to regain one’s normal level of energy. Coming right from the flu, I headed out on a work trip to two places. Exhausted from travel and the flu but with much to do to prepare for a retreat I was leading the next week, I found myself on the plane going home on Saturday night. So the conversation began in my head about how I would spend Sunday after church. One side of me was arguing for working on the retreat while the other side was arguing that I was supposed to take Sabbath and not only was I supposed to take it, I needed it.
Do you ever have those conversations in your head? Or maybe for you it isn’t so much about Sabbath on Sunday as taking a day off or not. Or about how you will spend your day off. What helps and encourages you actually to take Sabbath? Do you have anyone who holds you accountable for taking one day a week as Sabbath?
In this issue of Leading from the Center, Marjorie Thompson has written a fine and inviting article reminding us of the importance of Sabbath and of what it does for our life as well as our faith. She asks the question of why it is so hard for us to take Sabbath and then provides “guilt-free” [at least it was for me] encouragement to take up the practice again.
Oh and by the way, I did take Sabbath that Sunday, and I suspect that the retreat was better because I did.
Prayers for you along the way in your own struggles.
Susan.
Susan W. N. Ruach is the Director of Conference Spiritual Leadership Development for the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN.
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