PRACTICE: Multiply your age by 365. Divide that number by 7. Divide that number by 7.
I am not an essential worker, so I have had a lot of time to think and eat and exercise lately. I have thought a lot about the lessons that are being taught to me and my fellow global citizens. This global pandemic has me thinking about… parents of school age children who will have a new respect for school teachers, the idolized sport’s superstars who can’t help me or you survive but the first responders and medical professionals who can and they are risking their lives and those of their loved ones to do so AND have I been making a mockery of the practice of sabbath? I am now being forced into the observance of sabbath on a level that I would have never imagined.
There is an account in the bible where my spiritual ancestors were forced to work for four hundred years without a vacation (sabbath). My ethnic ancestors were enslaved and worked in this country for more than 245 years without vacation (sabbath). America declared its independence in 1776, making it 244 years old and has been going full throttle since.
The first number you calculated is the roughly the number of days that you have been on earth. The second number represents the number of weeks you have occupied space on the planet. The third number represents the number of times that you should have observed sabbath. If you believe in the biblical construct of sabbath and are like me, then I am fairly certain that neither of us have withdrawn from our “sabbath account” nearly enough. In fact, I (we) have contributed substantially to others not being able to withdraw from their account. How? Think about it – that’s another topic for another day.
We – all of us – have become slaves to busyness…the natural rhythm of work and rest has been usurped by the constant need to always be in motion. It was just a matter of time before restoration had to occur. Is it possible that this is the time?
Hebrews 4:9 - There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;
PONDER THIS THOUGHT – The body needs what the body needs. The spirit needs what the spirit needs. Both will eventually get it with or without your permission.
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