My Saturdays in the summer have almost always started with a trip to whatever Farmers Market is near for almost 30 years. I love it even when my refrigerator hasn't even been emptied from last week's visit, as was the case today.
Just walking among the stalls, seeing the splashes of color like still life paintings, and absorbing the variety of smells that waft from the fresh fruits, vegetables, and especially the herbs is worth the trip.
Today I could hardly restrain myself until I got home, rinsed the huge fresh blackberries and peeled the peaches that dripped with sweet juices to savor a combination that is among my favorites. Yum!
The cycle of nature is like the cycle of our spiritual lives. In a few weeks the very fruits that are at their prime today will fall to the ground, rotting away from their seeds to plant the beginnings of next summer's larder.
In mystical traditions, it is the same with our lives and our spiritual growth. In the fall, more precisely around the time during which the Jewish Calendar begins a new year, we plant spiritual seeds for what we want to learn and how we want to grow. During the winter we have the opportunity to nurture those intentions, and if we have been faithful to them, about this time we should begin harvesting the fruits of our labors.
As I ate my delicious, peak-of-the-season fruit today, I wondered what I will be harvesting this fall. After a brutal work year, I recently received a promotion for which I am grateful, but I am more concerned about reaping the spiritual fruits of my labors.
Last fall I recommitted to my writing, and I started writing this blog fairly regularly. I hope that I've planted some spiritual seeds as I've encouraged us to come together through a ribbon of love, play the Grocery Store Game, and most recently encouraged making miracles. I've written several chapters of my memoir, and very slowly made progress at getting The Game Called Life available as an ebook. I still have two months to make progress on those projects.
I've kept with my commitment to get to know my neighbors, and after three eye surgeries, I have much improved eyesight.
As I reflect on this cycle of life, I know there are things that could benefit from more attention, like more exercise and dance, and being more open to love. At this 10/12 of the way through my spiritual year, I still have time to reflect on my intentions and redirect where I've slacked on my intentions. That assessment will be the focus of my Sabbath practice tomorrow, as I attempt to be all that God would have me be in this life...one year at a time.
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Showing posts with label Sabbath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sabbath. Show all posts
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
What is work?
As promised when I wrote "Sabbath" (3/22/14) last weekend, since I chose to work on my Sabbath I am taking today off for that practice. I struggled as I wrote the word "practice" because for me Sabbath requires practice. Perhaps it is because this odd weekday Sabbath doesn't have any routines like getting up and going to church that I am much more aware of the state of mind required for Sabbath practice.
After working out of town most of the week and getting home when it was almost dark, one of the first things I wanted to do this morning was to check for signs of spring on my balcony. Although I left town in Washington's latest snow storm, two days of warmer temperatures had sent new flower shoots bursting through the soil, some already three inches high. I raced to my kitchen sink for water to encourage their growth.
Just as I was doing so, I was struck with the question: "Isn't watering my plants work?" Hmmm. Caring for these living things that I love brings me such joy, can that really be considered work? I have often experienced joy in my work for which I get paid, and I was pretty certain that didn't make doing my job appropriate Sabbath activity. I continued to water, but I was really present to the living things upon which I was showering not only water but love.
I came in and made myself my normal breakfast fruit starter of fresh fruit, and I realized that the preparation might be work, certainly the way I was mindlessly going about it I stopped, took a deep breath, and began mindfully slicing and creatively arranging the fruit in my plate. I felt that was the way I should do food preparation on the Sabbath. (I know the rabbis in the temple would probably say that we aren't supposed to do food prep at all on the Sabbath.)
Next I filled my teakettle with water to make tea. Once again I wondered: "Was this activity work?" About that time, I knew that I wanted to share my thoughts in this blog, but once again I was struck with the question: "Is that work?" How could soul-searching be considered inappropriate activity for the Sabbath?
As I often do as I've written, the act of writing has brought me clarity. That is how I ended up using the word "practice" at the beginning of this post. Although the rabbis in the temple may disagree, I have come to understand two things about my Sabbath practice that I didn't know when I awakened this morning:
1) I think that the Sabbath is less about what we do and more about how we do it. By slowing the pace, we can bring more consciousness to whatever we do, and I think the consciousness we are to bring is a state of godliness. For me, personally, that means holding myself in love, joy, and peace--states that make me feel at one with all that is.
2) I arrived at the word "practice" because I realized this really is the state of consciousness that I want all the time: Sabbath gives me time and a pace to practice this way of being so that maybe I will be able to live and work this way more
of the time in the other six days of the week. I even think that my realization will make me more aware of how I will live all the time.
Unless it rains, I will go for a walk this afternoon, but instead if just going for a walk during which my mind continues to work, my Sabbath walk will be practice in consciousness for the week ahead and a time to delight in being present to spring budding around me.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
After working out of town most of the week and getting home when it was almost dark, one of the first things I wanted to do this morning was to check for signs of spring on my balcony. Although I left town in Washington's latest snow storm, two days of warmer temperatures had sent new flower shoots bursting through the soil, some already three inches high. I raced to my kitchen sink for water to encourage their growth.
Just as I was doing so, I was struck with the question: "Isn't watering my plants work?" Hmmm. Caring for these living things that I love brings me such joy, can that really be considered work? I have often experienced joy in my work for which I get paid, and I was pretty certain that didn't make doing my job appropriate Sabbath activity. I continued to water, but I was really present to the living things upon which I was showering not only water but love.
I came in and made myself my normal breakfast fruit starter of fresh fruit, and I realized that the preparation might be work, certainly the way I was mindlessly going about it I stopped, took a deep breath, and began mindfully slicing and creatively arranging the fruit in my plate. I felt that was the way I should do food preparation on the Sabbath. (I know the rabbis in the temple would probably say that we aren't supposed to do food prep at all on the Sabbath.)
Next I filled my teakettle with water to make tea. Once again I wondered: "Was this activity work?" About that time, I knew that I wanted to share my thoughts in this blog, but once again I was struck with the question: "Is that work?" How could soul-searching be considered inappropriate activity for the Sabbath?
As I often do as I've written, the act of writing has brought me clarity. That is how I ended up using the word "practice" at the beginning of this post. Although the rabbis in the temple may disagree, I have come to understand two things about my Sabbath practice that I didn't know when I awakened this morning:
1) I think that the Sabbath is less about what we do and more about how we do it. By slowing the pace, we can bring more consciousness to whatever we do, and I think the consciousness we are to bring is a state of godliness. For me, personally, that means holding myself in love, joy, and peace--states that make me feel at one with all that is.
2) I arrived at the word "practice" because I realized this really is the state of consciousness that I want all the time: Sabbath gives me time and a pace to practice this way of being so that maybe I will be able to live and work this way more
of the time in the other six days of the week. I even think that my realization will make me more aware of how I will live all the time.
Unless it rains, I will go for a walk this afternoon, but instead if just going for a walk during which my mind continues to work, my Sabbath walk will be practice in consciousness for the week ahead and a time to delight in being present to spring budding around me.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Sabbath
Although I grew up in the American "Bible Belt," where going to church on Sunday, followed by a big Sunday dinner which often involved inviting friends from church or family, there were never any verbalized strictures around the Sabbath. In fact, we almost never used the word. I can remember asking my mother sometime in my grade school years, what "Sabbath" was. Her response was inexact if not imprecise: going to church--for Christians Sabbath is Sunday and for Jews it occurs on Saturday. That told me when it was and what people did, but it really never said what it was.
The Sabbath in the Abrahamic traditions derives from God's creation of the world in six days and God's rest on the seventh day. In 1994 I began strictly observing a Sabbath (strict by my definition)--a day of rest each week. Most of the time, I observe on Sunday, but occasionally, I choose another day. In the beginning, I spent most of the day reading spiritual writing and meditating; then, at 4 p.m., I would walk two blocks to a Kundalini yoga class, which ended in another meditation. I would often meet a friend for dinner at the end of my day.
Over the years, my practice has morphed to fit with circumstances in my life. For a period of time, my job required me to travel six days a week, and the only day I had at home was needed for laundry, opening mail, paying bills, watering plants, and, of course, packing for another week. Although I travelled much of the day on Sunday, I didn't work. Even on the plane I'd meditate. I would read spiritual material. Cooking is a delight to me, and I never consider it work. I often cook on my Sabbath. Since taking up dancing, dance has frequently been part of Sunday evenings. It is the most joyful thing I do. I am quite comfortable dancing on my Sabbath. All these activities feed my soul and renew me.
Various religious traditions do have strict guidelines for the Sabbath. In the 1981 Oscar-winning movie, "Chariots of Fire," athletes were not to train on the Sabbath. Now some people take a Sabbath from electronics.
A friend who knew my practice gave me a copy of William Muller's 2000 book, Sabbath. Muller describes the evolution of the Sabbath. In ancient times, he says, the Sabbath "created an oasis of sacred time within a life of unceasing labor." He continues that in our harried modern lives a Sabbath can be a "special time of rest, delight, and renewal--a refuge for our souls."
He describes the Sabbath as a "time of sacred rest to refresh our bodies and minds, restore our creativity, and regain our birthright of inner happiness." Ah! Although they have varied to include church services, time with friends, a hike in nature, lunch with friends, walking to the National Cathedral and spending time sitting or napping in the Bishop's garden, or watching "Super Soul Sunday" on OWN, my Sabbaths have generally been so. They truly renew me. I am happy and peaceful. The key thing for me has always been that I would not do "work."
For the last 36 hours, I have been agonizing over the upcoming Sabbath. I have a number of very big projects with immediate, eternally-driven deadlines at work. My whole team is working very long hours, so there is no one to whom I can off-load work. I will facilitate a three-day retreat this coming week, and I would usually spend four or five days preparing. Because of other projects, I had no time before Friday afternoon to prepare. I worked Friday afternoon and early evening, and I've work about six hours today, but I am far from ready.
If I don't work at least a few hours on Sunday, even with a marathon Monday, I won't be at all prepared for the meeting on Tuesday. Just thinking about it created stress. I would rather work on Sunday and have a saner, more satisfying week. But, this is a slippery slope; if I make this exception, will it become easier the next time deadlines encroach on my Sabbath. Will my boss come to expect me to work my weekends, as has happened before when I travelled? With the crazy pace, I need a Sabbath.
What to do? I will go to church and probably watch Super Soul Sunday when I return, but I will work several hours. I will take Friday off...no matter what...and renew myself after the retreat is behind me. I am uncomfortable with the solution because having become accustomed to a Sabbath, I know how much I need one, especially before several days of facilitation. However, I am unwilling to pull an all-nighter on Monday because I took Sunday off, and I get great joy from serving my client groups well. This week I accept a Sabbath in a different form and commit to return to rest and renewal next week.
The Sabbath in the Abrahamic traditions derives from God's creation of the world in six days and God's rest on the seventh day. In 1994 I began strictly observing a Sabbath (strict by my definition)--a day of rest each week. Most of the time, I observe on Sunday, but occasionally, I choose another day. In the beginning, I spent most of the day reading spiritual writing and meditating; then, at 4 p.m., I would walk two blocks to a Kundalini yoga class, which ended in another meditation. I would often meet a friend for dinner at the end of my day.
Over the years, my practice has morphed to fit with circumstances in my life. For a period of time, my job required me to travel six days a week, and the only day I had at home was needed for laundry, opening mail, paying bills, watering plants, and, of course, packing for another week. Although I travelled much of the day on Sunday, I didn't work. Even on the plane I'd meditate. I would read spiritual material. Cooking is a delight to me, and I never consider it work. I often cook on my Sabbath. Since taking up dancing, dance has frequently been part of Sunday evenings. It is the most joyful thing I do. I am quite comfortable dancing on my Sabbath. All these activities feed my soul and renew me.
Various religious traditions do have strict guidelines for the Sabbath. In the 1981 Oscar-winning movie, "Chariots of Fire," athletes were not to train on the Sabbath. Now some people take a Sabbath from electronics.
A friend who knew my practice gave me a copy of William Muller's 2000 book, Sabbath. Muller describes the evolution of the Sabbath. In ancient times, he says, the Sabbath "created an oasis of sacred time within a life of unceasing labor." He continues that in our harried modern lives a Sabbath can be a "special time of rest, delight, and renewal--a refuge for our souls."
He describes the Sabbath as a "time of sacred rest to refresh our bodies and minds, restore our creativity, and regain our birthright of inner happiness." Ah! Although they have varied to include church services, time with friends, a hike in nature, lunch with friends, walking to the National Cathedral and spending time sitting or napping in the Bishop's garden, or watching "Super Soul Sunday" on OWN, my Sabbaths have generally been so. They truly renew me. I am happy and peaceful. The key thing for me has always been that I would not do "work."
For the last 36 hours, I have been agonizing over the upcoming Sabbath. I have a number of very big projects with immediate, eternally-driven deadlines at work. My whole team is working very long hours, so there is no one to whom I can off-load work. I will facilitate a three-day retreat this coming week, and I would usually spend four or five days preparing. Because of other projects, I had no time before Friday afternoon to prepare. I worked Friday afternoon and early evening, and I've work about six hours today, but I am far from ready.
If I don't work at least a few hours on Sunday, even with a marathon Monday, I won't be at all prepared for the meeting on Tuesday. Just thinking about it created stress. I would rather work on Sunday and have a saner, more satisfying week. But, this is a slippery slope; if I make this exception, will it become easier the next time deadlines encroach on my Sabbath. Will my boss come to expect me to work my weekends, as has happened before when I travelled? With the crazy pace, I need a Sabbath.
What to do? I will go to church and probably watch Super Soul Sunday when I return, but I will work several hours. I will take Friday off...no matter what...and renew myself after the retreat is behind me. I am uncomfortable with the solution because having become accustomed to a Sabbath, I know how much I need one, especially before several days of facilitation. However, I am unwilling to pull an all-nighter on Monday because I took Sunday off, and I get great joy from serving my client groups well. This week I accept a Sabbath in a different form and commit to return to rest and renewal next week.
Friday, November 15, 2013
On the 7th day God rested
I fell asleep while watching the evening news tonight--the 6:30 one. Really! All evening I fought it, knowing that I wanted to write a blog post. I kept falling asleep.
As I reflected on what I wanted to write, it came to me that, being Friday evening and all, the Sabbath was calling to me, literally and figuratively. Most religions recognize a day if rest. For the Abrahamic traditions this time recognized the rest which God took after creating our world. Eastern religions also have days of rest.
The days of rest were dedicated to quiet times that restore and reenergize us and renew our souls. They provided time to reconnect with loved ones and to read scriptures. When I was very young in the Midwest, stores weren't even open on Sundays. What a furor there was in the Bible Belt when that law changed. At the time, I thought it was silly; now, not so much.
For a number of years in midlife, I took a Sabbath. I'd sleep, pray, meditate, read spiritual books, and just before dusk, I'd walk two blocks to take a kundalini yoga class, often followed by dinner with a friend. I'd only eat simple foods that didn't require preparation. When I started my week, I did so with recharged batteries. I miss those days.
I can't tell you when I stopped observing the Sabbath. I never made a decision to stop. Somehow I just let one thing creep into my Sabbath and then another. Before I knew it, my Sabbath was gone, and I didn't even know it was gone.
I've come to believe that any practice that is common to many religious traditions is probably a good thing on a more Universal level. Like a Sabbath...If God needed to rest after working all week, why shouldn't I?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
As I reflected on what I wanted to write, it came to me that, being Friday evening and all, the Sabbath was calling to me, literally and figuratively. Most religions recognize a day if rest. For the Abrahamic traditions this time recognized the rest which God took after creating our world. Eastern religions also have days of rest.
The days of rest were dedicated to quiet times that restore and reenergize us and renew our souls. They provided time to reconnect with loved ones and to read scriptures. When I was very young in the Midwest, stores weren't even open on Sundays. What a furor there was in the Bible Belt when that law changed. At the time, I thought it was silly; now, not so much.
For a number of years in midlife, I took a Sabbath. I'd sleep, pray, meditate, read spiritual books, and just before dusk, I'd walk two blocks to take a kundalini yoga class, often followed by dinner with a friend. I'd only eat simple foods that didn't require preparation. When I started my week, I did so with recharged batteries. I miss those days.
I can't tell you when I stopped observing the Sabbath. I never made a decision to stop. Somehow I just let one thing creep into my Sabbath and then another. Before I knew it, my Sabbath was gone, and I didn't even know it was gone.
I've come to believe that any practice that is common to many religious traditions is probably a good thing on a more Universal level. Like a Sabbath...If God needed to rest after working all week, why shouldn't I?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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