The Rest of God
We’re in Florida on the first leg of a four-month sabbatical. Soaking up warmth, color, the smell of cut grass, the sound of the ocean…All things restorative, and we’re grateful for the gift of this time.
It seemed appropriate yesterday that I started reading The Rest of God about Sabbath by Mark Buchanan.
I think John does a good job of living a balanced life – working hard, maintaining appropriate boundaries, making time for recreation. And he’s taught me to be better at it, which is hard for someone with “activator” and “achiever” as strengths. But I’m being reminded that Sabbath is about much more than balance and boundaries. I don’t want to become more legalistic about Sabbath, but I do want to become more intentional. And I want to better understand this rhythm God desires.
Buchanan writes, “In a culture where busyness is a fetish and stillness is laziness, rest is sloth. But without rest we miss the rest of God: the rest He invites us to enter more fully so that we might know Him more deeply…Sabbath is both a day and an attitude to nurture such stillness…both time on a calendar and a disposition of the heart…Sabbath imparts the rest of God – actual physical, mental, spiritual rest, but also the rest of God – the things of God’s nature and presence we miss in our busyness…”
We’ve got lots of time to think about this now while we’re on break, but what about you? Is Sabbath something you intentionally practice? What does it look like? Does the idea of Sabbath seem like a generous gift or an irritating interruption? I really would like to know (if you have a minute)
Posts
oh, the most GENEROUS of gifts. i love sabbath. i am good at experiencing sabbath in my body, with rest and sleep and lounging, but i find it harder in other ways.
ReplyDeleteone time wiens said that he and mary were considering sabbath as a time to be content with what they have.
that creeps into my thoughts about relationships, body, knowledge, emotion, and my body. it's a difficult practice to be content. to practice gratitude for what we already have.
miss you laura!
I always love your thoughts Brookie!! You are so good at paying attention and honoring God in your body. Love thinking about contentment with Sabbath. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I am kinda jealous that you are in Florida soaking up the sun and weather! I really want to travel (like Florida) but I am not physically there yet. I hope your enjoying the weather and your time there, just spending time with the Lord.
ReplyDeleteHow do you like the book you are reading? Let me know when you are done with it..
I, too, am an activator and achiever... so I struggle as well with the idea of Sabbath and resting. As I heal and rest, I am learning more and more on what it means to rest. Resting is so important for our bodies. We are His temple. Created in His image. I have been learning so much about what it means to rest... find rest and finding peace within while I rest. This is what the Sabbath is all about resting and looking towards Him our creator. Often, when we are running around working, running errands, doing life... we often are too busy to rest. I am finding that as I rest, how grateful I am that I have this opportunity in this stage to rest. I hope you do as well. I encourage you and myself to actually to on your calendar to physically rest. It is so important. Rest your body, rest your mind, rest your thoughts, and rest in Him who carries you.
The Sabbath was not intentionally practiced for me until this car accident. As I read through scripture, I am reminded how important it is to rest though. I know that when we run around doing things, (all good things) we forget to rest. Taking time to read the Bible, pray, devo, journaling etc is all wonderful however what does it really mean to rest...
For me it looks like simply putting on a worship song and singing along to it, it means saying God all I have is you, it means being thankful, it means praising Him, it means resting your body physically and sleeping, it means reading the Word, it means asking God what should I do while I rest on this Sabbath. For me, resting means finding my time with God and resting in Him. Seeing Him put His loving arms around me and walking alongside of me with whatever you are going through.
I always thought of the idea of a Sabbath as an irritating interruption. God has been working on my heart to show me that it is as gift. We need to embrace it and love it. The Bible calls us to Sabbath and we need to do that. It is simply by loving Him. It is His precious gift that we can spend one day (or more) with our creator, our Abba, our Father.
Thanks for your insights Laura!
Miss you and love you! :)
Rest in His amazing loving arms!