Shabbat Shalom! It means, Sabbath Peace. Today the Sabbath began at 4:32PM, the time of sunset and ends tomorrow at sundown. It was a gorgeous sunset! Simultaneously a full moon was rising. I find such a sense of peace settling in upon me. This is what I am coming to experience every Sabbath, or Shabbat.
Growing up in the church I always thought the Sabbath was on Sunday because that's when we went to church. And the ten commandments tell us to "Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy (set apart)." As an adult I continued following that idea- that's when we would attend church with our children. But honestly, that's about all I did to set it apart. There might have been fun family activities or gatherings but also plenty of projects or other things to get done. I certainly didn't rest much, that's for sure.
What I am learning is that the Sabbath is not only to be set apart unto the Lord but also a time for me to stop, to rest, to refrain from work and doing my own thing. It is also for spending time with your family. I also am learning that the Sabbath is on the 7th day (Saturday) and has been since the creation of the world. (See Genesis 2:2,3)
Since I have been keeping the Sabbath, it has been such a blessing. I am so sad to see it come to an end and really look forward to this special day every week. When I rest, and rest in the Lord, I am so refreshed. It forces me to stop and just be in His presence.
From a woman's perspective, the Sabbath is a very special, sweet gift. It gives me permission to rest and not be constantly "doing". Psalm 34:8 comes to mind:
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"
Shabbat Shalom my friends!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Me? A Blogger?
My main purpose in creating this blog is to have a place to process my spiritual journey and invite whoever is interested to come along. I particularly have in mind my family and friends as I write so they might have an understanding of what's been transpiring within me. There's change afoot!
I haven't been one to speak up much in my family. Somewhere along the way I must have learned that it was a bit dangerous to speak my mind. So I learned to keep quiet for the most part. But how can anyone really know you if you don't share what you think, how you feel and what you are experiencing as you walk through life? And so I step out to take a risk and do just that and will be growing in the process!
I was really struck by something Jessica (my daughter) said to me several years ago...7 to be exact! However did that time slip away so quickly? We were sitting in an old restaurant in the historical district of Philadelphia. I had been in town to watch her dance company perform at a nearby college. We were talking and I suppose I was mainly listening when she ask me what I thought. I don't really remember just what the subject was. I was more struck with what she said next. When I probably remarked more about her thoughts, she said, "I (we, she added) really want to know what you think!" I was really quite touched. It meant so much. It began to give me permission. I knew it was a growth edge for me, a significant part of me that had gotten lost long ago. Over the last 8 years I have been struggling to grow in this area with small successes. Really challenging myself to determine to know what I think about everything and why. It requires taking the time to think through thoughts, study, investigate, hear multiple sides. Sometimes I end up with an entirely new perspective. Sometimes I try out new ideas for a while and see if they resonated with Truth and life as I was experiencing it. And sometimes I would end up back where I began with the same opinion but with a richer, deeper, more certain understanding and perspective. Now verbalizing it is a whole other skill entirely. I now see how it has all led up to this moment.
I believe our spirituality is the core of our very being. It has always been my main pursuit...to know God, to love Him, and to know the Truth on a deeper, more significant level. It is truly my passion.
So now I begin to share what I am discovering and learning that is just blowing me away! It's like Jeff (my son) said of med school, particularly the first 2 years...like someone puts a fire hose in your mouth and turns it on full blast. I have learned more over the last 10 months, especially the last 5, than over the course of my life. And I have only scratched the surface. Seriously.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my process. It is a gift to me.
I haven't been one to speak up much in my family. Somewhere along the way I must have learned that it was a bit dangerous to speak my mind. So I learned to keep quiet for the most part. But how can anyone really know you if you don't share what you think, how you feel and what you are experiencing as you walk through life? And so I step out to take a risk and do just that and will be growing in the process!
I was really struck by something Jessica (my daughter) said to me several years ago...7 to be exact! However did that time slip away so quickly? We were sitting in an old restaurant in the historical district of Philadelphia. I had been in town to watch her dance company perform at a nearby college. We were talking and I suppose I was mainly listening when she ask me what I thought. I don't really remember just what the subject was. I was more struck with what she said next. When I probably remarked more about her thoughts, she said, "I (we, she added) really want to know what you think!" I was really quite touched. It meant so much. It began to give me permission. I knew it was a growth edge for me, a significant part of me that had gotten lost long ago. Over the last 8 years I have been struggling to grow in this area with small successes. Really challenging myself to determine to know what I think about everything and why. It requires taking the time to think through thoughts, study, investigate, hear multiple sides. Sometimes I end up with an entirely new perspective. Sometimes I try out new ideas for a while and see if they resonated with Truth and life as I was experiencing it. And sometimes I would end up back where I began with the same opinion but with a richer, deeper, more certain understanding and perspective. Now verbalizing it is a whole other skill entirely. I now see how it has all led up to this moment.
I believe our spirituality is the core of our very being. It has always been my main pursuit...to know God, to love Him, and to know the Truth on a deeper, more significant level. It is truly my passion.
So now I begin to share what I am discovering and learning that is just blowing me away! It's like Jeff (my son) said of med school, particularly the first 2 years...like someone puts a fire hose in your mouth and turns it on full blast. I have learned more over the last 10 months, especially the last 5, than over the course of my life. And I have only scratched the surface. Seriously.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my process. It is a gift to me.
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