Sabbath

(Kauai Church: photo by Wanda Tucker)

I am starting a new practice. Because filling my weekends with chores and 'have to-s' is so easy and rest is not, and because Mondays come too soon sometimes, in my household we are creating a Sabbath experience.

No, I am not Jewish; and while I do have a well-grounded and well-rounded spiritual life, our Sabbath is not purely for religious reasons (and there is not necessarily a church involved--I just happen to like visiting churches in my travels and I take lots of pictures of them).

"On the seventh day God rested." Seems like a good role model doesn't it? In my search for a balanced life, building in a "down day" makes a huge difference for me.

I don't have a lot of rules about Sabbath. The bottom line is, I don't do what I don't want to do. If I feel like doing something, I do it. I hang out with friends. I sleep in. I spend time recreating. I spend time in communion. (graceonline asks some great questions about how to build this time in an earlier post.)

The rhythm of "sundown to sundown" works well for me, too. In the past, I have tried to do Sabbath from the time I get up in the morning until I get up the next morning. I am not sure why the evening to evening works better, but it does.

I am amazed at how setting aside a day like this allows me to let down and really relax.

Find a rhythm of your own. Try it...you'll like it.

Wanda Tucker
Coach