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| Saturday, October 04, 2008 |
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Unlikely Imperative: Be the Sabbath
By webmaster @ 12:53 PM :: 174 Views ::
0 Comments :: Nina Frost
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This seems like a very strange, or a very pertinent, thing to write about amidst financial meltdown, and a vice presidential debate I am too hyped up to even WATCH, because it will make me even more crazed:
To wit, the Sabbath. As in, the commandment to keep it, weekly, whatever that may mean.
Last week, my husband and I journeyed to Connecticut to surprise my dad for his birthday (glorious) and to explore a retreat house, The Mercy Center, in Madison, CT (also glorious, and on the Long Island Sound). Part of me is still there in spirit.
We stayed there, and as I made my way to breakfast one morning, I passed a room with a sign on it for the group meeting there. The sign said: “Meeting for Sabbaticals.” I had never seen “Sabbath” used in this way before. I knew of Sabbath as an invitation, an imperative, an ideal… but as a person? As in, I am a resident Sabbatical? That was new.
Of course, I was smitten. The whole thought grabbed me: Not just to partake of or practice Sabbath, but to BE it. What would that mean? My hunch is it is not about zoning out, or some form of obliviousness—not at all. The men and women at this center for an extended time (mostly monks and nuns) were practicing a form of prayerful discipline.
I got a hint about what they were doing from reading this quote from Robert Johnson’s Unlived Life book I mentioned last week:
"The origin of the Sabbath came from the recognized need to pull out of ordinary consciousness for one day each week."
To pull out of ordinary consciousness. Yes, indeed. On vacation, that’s one thing. Amidst financial rollercoasters and campaign vitriol, that’s quite another thing. But think about what that might mean for you now. David Lewicki’s blog a couple of weeks ago was about service; that way of life is a step away from ordinary consciousness and into something larger and of God. To not worry about every market swing is a step into a larger time frame, a more spacious consciousness.
There is a principle from natural science called “entrainment”—that the rhythm we start to move to, psychically and otherwise, is the movement of the environment we spend our time in. In other words, being around anxious people will make you anxious.
How can you “pull out of ordinary consciousness” this coming week? How can you not just honor the concept of Sabbath but be a “Sabbatical”? It may mean not paying attention to something you usually really focus on. It may mean taking a break that has been a long time coming. Blessings on your wrestling with this… not just this week, but every week. |
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Welcome to MarbleTalks, a weblog published by the ministers and staff of Marble Collegiate Church. If you're unfamiliar with blogs, this short primer will help get you up to speed.
What is a Blog?
MarbleTalks provides a forum for each of our ministers and various staff members to share their thoughts, questions, and experiences with our faith community. Contributors to the blog will use a wide variety of sources for inspiration, and may share those sources when possible. Blogs are built around the active participation of their readers, and will commonly encourage you to take action in your life and the world around you.
Publishing Schedule:
| Sun. |
Dr. Caliandro |
| Mon. |
Sister Carol Perry |
| Tues. |
Rev. Lewicki |
| Wed. |
Dr. Lutz |
| Thur. |
Rev. Jordan |
| Thur. |
Dr. Ruge |
| Fri. |
Rev. Pierce |
| Sat. |
Nina Frost |
Reading Our Blog:
New articles will go up every day, and we hope you'll check in regularly. The seven most recent posts are displayed on this main page. Each article contains a short description and a link to read the full text. If you'd like to go back and read previous entries you missed, click on the "Categories" link at the top of the page and then select the author you're interested in. We don't delete old articles, so you'll be able to come back anytime and re-read the ones that speak to you in significant ways.
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