Fortunately, we are saved by grace. When the laws were first given it was not easy to keep them. How much harder it has become in this day and age when so many things are clamoring for our attention. There are not enough hours in the day or days in the week to get everything done. It's a troubling thing to think that we have a truck load of idols that come before our worship of our Creator. And yet, most of us do. I may not choose to see it that way, but anything that comes between God and my time with Him, especially if it is constant, runs the risk of being an idol, a false god to which I turn instead of God Almighty.
The Sabbath routinely gets filled with leftover work from the week: projects around the house, odd jobs that need tending to, hanging out with friends, (not to be confused with fellowship!), shopping, cleaning, entertainment (and not necessarily of the uplifting, edifying kind!), getting a head start on next week's work, and the list goes on. When I make the attempt to actually, intentionally observe the Sabbath, I find a curious thing usually seems to happen.
The first thing I experience is the big question mark. What am I supposed to be doing? Well, going to church is one thing. Maybe for some the obvious thing. But in all actuality, going to church can just become an empty ritual; something to do on Sunday to symbolize that I believe in God. It's not necessarily about worship and relationship with a living savior. I've found myself sitting in the pew figuring out the grocery list or how I'm going to structure the next article I have to write or what I'm going to post on one of my blogs, or where I'm going to get the money to pay that bill rather than paying attention to the service. Besides, my particular living situation right now, taking care of my mom, makes it a bit difficult to get out to church regularly. (That's her in the picture!)
The next thing is to figure out some godly thing to do during this time. Pray, read the Bible, meditate on Scripture passages. All good stuff. But I know better than to expect that I can do that all day long. My mind wanders way too much for that! Because my mind wanders, I find myself getting impatient for Monday to come so I can get to work! Well, that's certainly not a good thing if I'm about keeping the Sabbath holy.
Kathleen's poem gave me some perspective. I guess I've always seen the Sabbath as a somber holy day. That comes partly from my mother's childhood experience of visiting her paternal grandparents. Grandpa McFarland was a staunch minister. He expected the grand children to sit still and observe the Sabbath. "Mrs. McFarland," he would say to his wife, "Please keep those children quiet!" Those were the days when children were to be seen and not heard. My own childhood experience wasn't quite so constrained.
We went to church, came home and prepared a Sunday breakfast and usually just played while Mom and sometimes Dad would get started on the Sunday dinner, unless we went to Grandma's house. There was always homemade bread and other delights at her house. Sundays seemed to revolve around food to a certain degree. It was a day of rest from the work of the weekday job, but not necessarily a day of rest. It was definitely not a day of sitting on the couch in Sunday dress clothes and being quiet.
Do what I did, when I ceased to create.
Throw a big party and stay up late,
Rejoice in my goodness. Let’s celebrate!
Plan for a crowd, cook in adv ance;
Hallow my Name in song and dance;
Frolic and feast, your life enhance;
Joyfully revel in Sabbath’s expanse."
Today is Sunday. Actually the first day of the week. The age old conflict continues - when should I celebrate the Sabbath? I think what really matters more, is how I celebrate the Sabbath. Today, I'm going to get out my guitar and sing some hymns to Mom. I've been thinking about doing it way too long. Today, I'll do it and we will celebrate God together.
How are you celebrating the Sabbath?
Poem excerpt used by permission from the author