Sabbath

On Valentine's Day weekend, Lori and I spent a lot of time talking about schedules, priorities, and the dreaded word, busy. We are both so obsessive about getting things done that we can struggle with pausing and relaxing. We decided we needed to make some changes in our weekend priorities. Sometimes it is easier to prioritize your professional life than your personal life.

The next day, we sat down to watch Rob Bell's session at C3. In his conversation with Ed, he talked about how his family uses Saturday as their sabbath. This is his family's time to truly relax; a time to play Lego's with his kids until they just don't want to play anymore. A time when the cell phone is off and he is as unreachable as a senior pastor can be. Then he brought it all home: "You know, my kids don't care how big my church is, they just want to know when their dad is going to be home."

Wow.

The next morning, we visited our new Plano campus and sat down to hear an entire message focused on, what else, the sabbath! As if God was unsure whether we had heard His message yet, we listened to Ed talk about the rhythm of life; six and one, six and one, six one. He spoke about how critical a true day of rest is to each of us personally and as a family - no errands, no work, disconnected from technology, and just enjoying family and friends and His wonderful creation.

So, we have decided to make Sunday a true sabbath. We are going to attend church in the morning and serve during the second service (we were previously Saturday night attendees, which was wonderful, but complicates the sabbath idea as Saturdays are filled with scheduled activities and the momentum of the week just passed).

When we get home on Sunday, we are focusing entirely on our family and relaxation. I know this seems impossible, but our Sundays will actually have no computers, no television, and no cell phones. Last weekend was our first experiment and it was heavenly. We read, played games, went for a walk, and did fun family projects. Ben loved having our undivided attention. When the day ended, we were refreshed and ready for a new week.

I have no illusions of how challenging this will be, but I can't wait to see what God is going to do.

Comments

[Frank Johnson]

Brian:

Very interesting. Only one comment.

In Jewish thought, the Sabbath begins with sundown. Eugene Peterson has some great things to say about this in one or more of his books (I think it's in Answering God). He points out that the Jewish approach to the timing of the Sabbath helps us remember that God is the one who is a work and that we are joining in the work he has already begun.

We are asleep at the beginning of the Sabbath (although I suppose you have to put yourself back in the time when there were no electric lights to understand that since we stay awake long after sundown), God works, and then we join him in his work when we wake up.

All that to say that I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the idea of attending services on Saturday night because they complicate the Sabbath concept.

Just a thought.

[Peter Davidson]

I have been attending church on Saturday night for perhaps 10 years now and in recent years been more formal about keeping a Sunday Sabbath. It's wonderful. I find church attendance and serving to be intensely relational time. A time to connect with others. Sunday Sabbath apart from church enables that time to be one of connection to God and family exclusively.

[Brian Bailey]

I love what both Peter and Frank have to say about what makes Saturday services special. One of the reasons I love Saturday services is because they were one of the main reasons we decided to try FC - the thought of sleeping in on Sunday mornings with our (then) new baby sounder wonderful.

When I wrote about struggles with Saturday services, I should have been more clear. At FC, we talk a lot about how we should come to church worshipping, not come to church to worship. Well, with Saturday being so full of erands, scheduled events, and productivity, we so often found ourselves rushing to church minutes after returning from the grocery store - church almost felt like one more erand. Of course, there's no reason it has to be like that - it just struck us that way.

So far, our Sunday mornings have been peaceful and we find ourselves driving to church on quiet streets, thinking happily about our morning destination.

[Paul Podraza]

i think i posted this here or at terry's blog, i can't remember which...that rob bell session really had me thinking too. I'm a media director, and could easily work 100 hours a week if i wanted too. but with a wife and a two year old son, i need to curb that mentality and be "ever present" at home. i moved my off days from friday and saturday to thursday and friday.
i was always working on fridays to finish up projects, and was always working saturday nights to finish up stuff for sunday mornings. never really having a full day at home.
i've only been on this new scehdule for a week, and it's already made a huge difference. time at home good. time away from work good. and working on saturdays and sundays makes me available to train volunteers very good!
i'll try to keep you guys posted on insights on this schedule as i go on. obviously i can do this becuase i don't have school age children..so i know it won't work for everyone.

[Matt]

Brian, I was googling Rob Bell and Sabbath and enjoyed reading your blog. I am also currently researching the Sabbath... Suffice to say it must be a combination of the ritual, the fabric of creation (6 and 1), and your own personality and family ethos... So, you're thinking through it beautifully... Do you know where Peterson talks about it in the book someone else referenced?

[Brian Bailey]

I appreciate the feedback, Matt. It's definitely an ongoing challenge to truly set aside time to focus on the big things instead of the little things.

I'm afraid I wasn't able to locate the Peterson reference either.

God bless!