Sabbath Retreat

There is a kind of hurry that is a form of violence exercised upon time that is detrimental to our health, our families, our communities, and our relationship with God. Admittedly, there are times when the demands of relationships, family, work, school, church, childcare, shopping, health, appearance, housework, meals, bill payments, commuting, accidents, interruptions, illness, and countless other things eat up more time than is seemingly available. Living under pressure is a part of life. Still, we have to be careful not to rationalize. God didn’t make a mistake in creating time; God made enough of it.

When we cannot find enough time and—as the psalmist says—find ourselves getting up earlier and going to bed later because we have too much to do, we can see this as a sign to make some changes in our lives. When we allow ourselves to be driven like this for too long, we end up doing violence to time, to ourselves, and to our blood pressure! What’s the answer?

There is no simple answer, but there is a divinely given counsel regarding how we can protect ourselves from becoming addicted to pressure and rushing headlong through our lives. It’s more than counsel to lower blood pressure; it’s one of the Ten Commandments: Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. God gave us the Sabbath. Jesus taught us that we weren’t made for the sabbath but that sabbath was made for us. Sabbath time is our time, our chance to rest, to worship God…, to taste a wee bit of heaven, and to be more in sympathy with all that is, not least our own lives.

—Ronald Rolheiser, (Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, by Ruth Haley Barton, pages ix-xi)

If these words tap into your own experience and desire, join us for a Sabbath Retreat, Friday–Sunday, October 21–23, at St. Emma’s Retreat House in Greensburg. The retreat will include times of prayer, rest, solitude, silence, table fellowship, teaching, and reflection. The cost is $150 (scholarships are available). RSVP to Pastor BJ by Sunday, October 16. Spots are limited.