Today, or now yesterday, I suppose, was my sabbath, the first one I’ve had in a couple of weeks. Usually I observe it religiously (pun intended), but my day off last week was filled with enough errands to be anything but restful.
It’s my busy season at work. Small group registrations are due, which means helping leaders register their groups, reviewing leadership applications, meeting new leaders to discuss the leadership covenant, and producing the Atlas, our catalog of small groups.
I’d be lying if I said I work as hard or as long as some others on staff at NCC or in our congregation, not to mention that I love what I do. But it is a busy time nonetheless, a time of long days and working weekends.
Today was not a good day to take off, not a good day to ignore my e-mail. Doing so means that there are likely some groups submitted late that won’t be listed in the Atlas. It means that there will probably be a pile of e-mail waiting for me in the morning. It means that I may be working late again tomorrow.
Yet all of that made today a very good day to take off. Today was a day to read Scripture, to read books, to write, to have dinner with my wife, and to play with my friends. Today was a day to refresh and recharge so that when I face the pile of work that will undoubtedly be waiting for me in the morning, I’ll have the spiritual, physical, and emotional energy to perform well.
God created us to observe sabbath, to take one day each week when we cease doing what is necessary to do what is most beneficial. Sabbath is not an archaic ritual but a gift. It keeps our priorities straight, our egos in check, our bodies healthy, and our souls fed.
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