Pastor Siri, a former coworker of mine at Trinity in Stillwater, is leading a group of people in reading the book Sabbath by Wayne Muller. It’s a book that has been on my shelf since it was recommended to me during CPE and a book that I still haven’t read all the way through in those last three years. I’m thankful for Siri’s structure and accountability in finally reading it as I join in the virtual reading group.
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| today’s ponder text. |
There is a schedule; a couple chapters a week for the summer. Throughout it all, Siri will text us questions to ponder and thoughts, along with blogging about it on her blog. Chances are I’ll be blogging about it too.
Hello.
She sent the first group text today and it encouraged me to start my reading of the book this evening.
To be unavailable to our friends and family, to be unable to find time for a sunset … to whiz through our obligations without time for a single mindful breath, this has become the model for a successful life. [Sabbath, p. 2-3]
Muller’s theory is further proved by a commercial on the television just a moment ago. I don’t even recall what company it was for but this company prided itself in being “unwilling to rest.” That’s exactly what Muller talks about – we don’t rest and … that’s become a positive thing?
While many of us are terribly weary, we have come to associate tremendous guilt and shame with taking time to rest. [p.8]
I can relate to everything he writes and thus, I’m declaring my summer one of sabbath. That doesn’t mean a summer of vacations or simply making sure I get one full day off a week. It’s more than that. It’s a restored rhythm to living. It’s a way of effortless, nourishing rest. It’s said best by Muller –
Sabbath is a way of being in time where we remember who we are, remember what we know, and taste the gifts of the Spirit and eternity. [p. 6]
Yeah. That. That’s what I’m aiming for this summer. Hold me to it, will you?
there's no place like gnome. 
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