by Margaret Zook
“Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation.”
– Exodus 31:13a, NLT
As a child, I understood sabbath to mean that Sunday was for worship and to rest, in community. After going to church, visiting over dinner and reading were both permitted, but organized sports and shopping were not. Worship was rich with singing, bible stories, and friends. Rest was defined as “not working.”
Yet, women did the cooking and clean up for whomever would be invited for Sunday dinner. It was a time when daughters were in a transition point, with growing freedom to imagine there could be more. Sabbath was a time to learn about God, not a tradition bound to.
“On the seventh day God… rested from all his work.”
– Genesis 2:2, NLT
It was during the middle years of my life that I had the freedom to imagine what Sabbath could be, beyond Sunday attendance in worship and Sunday meal making. During the period of my life that involved education, marriage, children, and career, Sabbath meant a search to discover a personal “vertical” relationship with God. Sabbath was time found–a moment of quiet, a walk, a church in which to belong, a sermon, a talk, a prayer time. Sabbath was to live as someone who belongs to the Lord.
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath’.”
– Mark 2:27-28, NRSV
As the years have passed, Sabbath freedom now becomes a recognition of how my time on earth is finite; I’m facing my mortality. I now find Sabbath as delight, grace for reflection, and flexibility for unexpected opportunities. I see Sabbath as an invitation to observances and disciplines that bring God closer, and to discover things that nourish a soul and give respite from the demands of the everyday. Sabbath is to hold and to learn for what God has for today.
“Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.”
– Exodus 20:8, NRSV
For all stages of life’s journey, I leave you with a few Sabbath ideas. Plan to set apart time for Sabbath, turn off technology, be present in community worship, engage in restful activities, spend time with loved ones, meditate on all of God’s creation, and make time for thoughtful prayer.
Margaret Zook
Margaret Zook is the Director of Collaborative Ministries for Mosaic Conference. She and husband, Wib, are members of Salford Mennonite Church and live in Harleysville, PA.