Finding Sabbath

By Ann Marie Eckert

When the snows of winter arrived in Buffalo (unexpectedly) in October, I spent two days in the dark without power. By chance, I had just started reading Sabbath by Wayne Mueller. The book and the candle-lit nights brought me new insights into the meaning of rest and Sabbath. As the business of the holiday season comes to a close, it seems the right time to reflect on the importance of Sabbath in our lives. How much rest, how much nothingness, how much Sabbath do we allow our lives? If you are like me, the answer is "not enough."

I invite you to listen to the word of God as given to us by Moses:

Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, your God. . . In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord has blessed the Sabbath say and made it holy.
(Exodus 20: 8-11).

As you probably realize, this is the Third Commandment: "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day." I find it interesting that this commandment, unlike all the others, begins with "remember." God understood that it would be easy for us to lose our way, to become too busy and too consumed with our lives and we would, ultimately, forget to rest.

Sitting in my darkened house during the storm, with a fire going for warmth and candles lit for light, I was so aware of the quietness that is missing from my life. The TV wasn't on, the phone didn't ring, the CD player was silent. It was just me and my own thoughts. And it was good. It was truly Sabbath for me.

Sabbath can be a day of the week, but it can also be honored at other times, as Mueller explains:

In Sabbath time we remember to celebrate what is beautiful and sacred; we light candles, sing songs, tell stories, eat, nap, and make love. Within this sanctuary, we become available to the insights and blessings of deep mindfulness that arise only in stillness and time. If we do not rest, if we do not surrender into some kind of Sabbath, how can we find our way, how can we hear the voices that tell us the right thing to do?
(page 7)

Curtis Stephan reminds us of this wisdom of Sabbath in his song Peace and Love of God.

Be still and know that I am with you. . .
I'll be your rock of refuge, your shelter from the storm,
a beacon in the darkness, a light that leads you home.
I'll make a place within you, deep within your heart,
and you will know the peace of love of God.

God dwells within each of us, but in our busyness, I think that we lose touch with God and with the goodness within ourselves. I know that during my busiest times, I often feel empty and out of sorts. This is not just because I am tired, but because the natural rhythm of my life is off. Sleep, healthy food, laughter, conversation, and quietness are essential parts of life. Without them I become less able to deal with problems, think of creative solutions, and even do normal tasks. Mueller's book reminded me that I have created a life for myself that values busyness, accomplishment, and doing. My challenge for the new year is to place as much value on nothingness, rest, and Sabbath. I know that my prayer life will improve if I do this. I also know that I will find new wisdom within myself. Sabbath is my New Year's resolution, and my invitation to you. How will you sing songs, light candles, be still, and do nothing in the coming year? If you can find a way to slow down, you might discover both God and yourself waiting for you.

Instead of inviting you to pray, I invite you to simply sit in silence for five minutes. Don't think, just try to empty yourself. If you can't do it — try it again tomorrow. And if you can, try ten minutes tomorrow!

Spirit Compass reflections are developed in partnership
with the Center for Ministry Development.