One of the greatest losses in our culture is Sabbath. Sabbath (/ˈsæbəθ/) is the seventh day of the Hebrew calendar week. According to Exodus 20:8, it is commanded by God to be kept as a holy day of rest, as God rested from creation. Walter Brueggeman says this about Sabbath: “Sabbath, is not about worship. It is about work stoppage. It is about withdrawal from the anxiety system of Pharaoh, the refusal to let one’s life be defined by production and consumption and the endless pursuit of private well-being.” It’s not easy to keep Sabbath in our culture. Ironically, it is particularly challenging for those of us who are Christian Educators.
One of the greatest gifts the church affords me is three days at NEAUCE, the New England Association of United Church Educators, where I congregate with other church educators to network, generate ideas, learn, and most importantly REST and WORSHIP! I never fully realize how spiritually depleted I truly am until I step on the sacred ground of the Craigville Retreat Center. I attended a workshop on leading adult retreats. Our leader said something so “no brainer” that it was deeply profound!!! “If you want to be a spiritual leader, you have to have a spiritual life.” She went on to ask, “What is your spiritual life like?” (cluttered) and “Are you willing to have one?” (Yes!! But I can’t seem to get out from under the piles to get there!) She had us each write a prayer to express our interpretation of the following Psalm.
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
So my soul longs for you, Oh God
My soul thirsts for God,
For the living God.
When shall I come and behold
The face of God?
Psalm 42:1-2
I’ll share my prayer with you…
Like a child wanting time alone with Mom,
I long for a one-on-one, God.
Lift me from the busyness.
Wake me from my slumber.
Place me on your knee
Tell me a story,
Help me to feel your presence and see your face again.
I guess you could say I’ve been missing my friend, God. I’ve been treading water so hard, that I suppose I feared that if I stopped I may sink. But you know what? I stopped on my retreat and I floated gracefully to the top. My lungs filled with air. Ahhh. Retreat. Sabbath. Yes, thank you. Amen!
One of the greatest gifts the church affords me is three days at NEAUCE, the New England Association of United Church Educators, where I congregate with other church educators to network, generate ideas, learn, and most importantly REST and WORSHIP! I never fully realize how spiritually depleted I truly am until I step on the sacred ground of the Craigville Retreat Center. I attended a workshop on leading adult retreats. Our leader said something so “no brainer” that it was deeply profound!!! “If you want to be a spiritual leader, you have to have a spiritual life.” She went on to ask, “What is your spiritual life like?” (cluttered) and “Are you willing to have one?” (Yes!! But I can’t seem to get out from under the piles to get there!) She had us each write a prayer to express our interpretation of the following Psalm.
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
So my soul longs for you, Oh God
My soul thirsts for God,
For the living God.
When shall I come and behold
The face of God?
Psalm 42:1-2
I’ll share my prayer with you…
Like a child wanting time alone with Mom,
I long for a one-on-one, God.
Lift me from the busyness.
Wake me from my slumber.
Place me on your knee
Tell me a story,
Help me to feel your presence and see your face again.
I guess you could say I’ve been missing my friend, God. I’ve been treading water so hard, that I suppose I feared that if I stopped I may sink. But you know what? I stopped on my retreat and I floated gracefully to the top. My lungs filled with air. Ahhh. Retreat. Sabbath. Yes, thank you. Amen!
