Something Sabbath

Crazy busy is the life I choose to lead which made being 'unemployed' a struggle for many years.  Required 'back then' was patience and a new learning about 'waiting', while actively doing whatever came my way, and it always did.

These days (even after 10 months of employment at Lowe's) I find myself still a bit disoriented as I attempt acclimation to retail scheduling (something my fellow associates tell me will never happen).  For this aging mind, if it weren't for my 'smartphone', and Google calendar, I think I'd be more 'toast' than I already am.  My schedule at Lowe's drives my weekly life;  My job managing the facility at the preschool able to 'tuck' neatly around the biddings of Big Blue.  My work at the church?  Well some are flexible and some aren't and mostly, Big Blue has accommodated my requests.

Working three jobs, has escalated my scheduling life to a whole new level, and, as I pray, it seems God has already preconfirmed that His provision for me would be through a life of multiple employ.  He sends odd jobs, like working on friends computers, handyman repairs for friend's homes, as well as our own home (remodeling our guest bath) adding additional 'spice', to my weeks.  In the midst of this all, while attending the district conference for our church denomination, I was hit with an important issue pressed out of my life by the crazy business that encroached my days and weeks...

When is my day of rest???

I have a habit of filling holes in my schedule with other 'important' things to do, mostly for others and with Carrie.  But, I haven't considered my own, personal 'day of rest'...and, frankly?  It is the reason I find myself in a state of requiring 'quiet'.  My all to brief 'quiet times' in the morning scream at me for the need of more.  In the midst of all the flurry of life, I find myself being more reclusive and less engaged in the cacophony of the living going on around me, wanting to be by myself; something this guy rarely desires.

So what does it mean and what should I or did I do about this?

I am now taking sabbath.  Rest.  A whole day off.  A Sunday on a Monday or Friday or whatever day I have off.  I plan my work around, filling other days leaving one day 'free'.

Because I 'like' activity, I allow myself to do things I like to do by myself, alone, that I find relaxing, invigorating, enjoyable, personally enriching or refreshing.  It has become my day for me, and I am beginning to look forward to it.

What do I do?

I am learning to play the Cajon (a drum box) and practice on it for a while.  I may take my mountain bike out for a ride.  I have taken up stunt kite flying (and general kite flying as I used to love flying kites as a kid).  I am learning how to fly remote control airplanes (with some hardware and software I purchased so I don't wreck my soon purchase of a 'real' airplane). I pray and read.  And mostly take great amounts of time 'listening' in all these 'activities'. 

Is this my rest?

For those who know me?  For who I am?  I believe this to be my form of rest.  In the beginning, God rested on the seventh day, and Sabbath takes it's lead from this initial example of rest, and it is verified for us through a command from God Himself to us for Sabbath.  Clearly if God stopped doing all He does to hold the universe in motion or abstained from being God for a day, calamity would result. What I mean is that He is still working, but instead 'rested' from His God work of creating. 

My work?  Doing what I get 'paid' for.  So why can't 'my rest', be anything outside of 'my jobs'? And now?  A day of something I look forward to doing  something 'Bob' like(s); Something personally renewing and refreshing with and directed towards my creator.  Something Sabbath.

My rest?  As varied as my soul.  Engaging in what engages me.  More time in prayer.  More time in listening.  Doing things I don't consider work, that moves comfort into my soul, set apart for my creator.  For others, it may mean doing 'nothing' or sitting at the beach, and while I can do this, my soul finds rest in doing things; learning things and through exploration.



Something Sabbath for me is resting from doing something that 'drains me', to doing something that renews me, and it is God who renews me, daily, but more so in the one day I distinctly set aside for Him  .  What is that which does this for you?  And how do you make it a weekly 'day' of rest, renewal and drawing near to The One who created you?