My fledgling sabbaths are still not where I want them to be, but I remind myself not to keep score. Instead, I have realized how my new sabbaths resemble those of my youth, minus the braces and teenage angst. My intention and awareness have shifted toward noticing God’s presence in stillness, devotion, and community. I may not hole up in a dark room for twenty-four hours and meditate on scriptures – I wouldn’t even recommend that – but I know that I can’t tend to the sacred garden within and around me without stepping out of everyday life.
I’m a big fan of “sabbath moments,” which are sacred glimpses in regular time – like a rainbow on a Thursday afternoon or a conversation with a close friend. Sabbath moments were a good place to start. Once I felt ready to stretch those moments into an hour, an afternoon, or a day, I did. I put my phone away. I napped. I attended worship. I walked slowly in nature. I read. I meditated. I prayed. Most of all, I practiced humility: I am not the Creator; this world will not fall apart without me.
This message is excerpted from “Slowing down for sabbath’s sake” by J. Dana Trent in the July 2019 Café online magazine.
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