So I’ve talked before about hard work being lazy – do you know what effort goes into doing your best to do little or nothing? Not saying that I’m lazy, but I’ve been accused of it, and now I work with more people who accused of the same and in reality there’s a great deal of effort that goes into it.
I’ve also mentioned before, once or twice, about this Sabbath gig that gets some people all in a tether. We’re cool though in knowing that I’m into Sabbath. Not just in a hippy, cool, intellectual ‘it’s good to take a break cyclically’ kind of way. I’m into observing, enjoying and celebrating the seventh day rest. More than I did when I was growing up and it was something I was forced to do, or did unthinkingly. More than I did when I was at university and followed the wrong way of doing it or how others were following it. I’m into it. I love it. It is very special to me.
Growing into it with the young family and the all new responsibilities of living out what you believe for the younger ones to see, understand and appreciate, that comes with its own challenges.
It is hard work relaxing. It is hard work resting. Especially when resting is something related with sleep. Even when you’re on holiday, that concept of just getting away from it all and recharging the batteries, actually doing that and not having your head cluttered with that stuff is a challenge. When your default mechanism is activity of some sort or another, exerting yourself to the degree that negates the concept of rest, then actually being told to rest is easier said than done.
One of the things about grace though, is it is not about judgementality but personal conviction on what is of importance to you. Understanding His lordship over the Sabbath makes it a big deal for me not just on the day but in the bigger picture of what is to come. Yet the foretaste of what is to come makes the weekly thing that much more precious. The deal is that as my girls grow in their own relationship, they will embrace this grace and this joy of the rest for themselves, not in a legalistic or licentious manner, but with the intent with which it was given.
In the meantime, on with the hard work of living out this rest business.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 