Pastor’s Corner An Extended Sabbath

A favorite author of mine named Wendell Berry has a collection of sabbath poems entitled This Day. In the introduction he writes,

[In the woods or along the streams], on the best of these sabbath days, I experience a lovely freedom from expectations – other people’s and also my own. I go free from the tasks and intentions of my workdays, and so my mind becomes hospitable to unintended thoughts: to what I am very willing to call inspiration. The poems come incidentally or they do not come at all. If the muse leaves me alone, I leave her alone. To be quiet, even wordless, in a good place is a better gift than poetry.

A lovely freedom of expectations…a mind hospitable to unintended thoughts…quiet in a good place. These are several of the gifts I received on my extended sabbath, along with time with my wife and daughters, slow mornings, rekindling old friendships in Austin (and eating Texas brisket), a rainy day family hike through an old forest in the Pacific Northwest, reading whatever brought me joy, learning to cast a reel and to smoke ribs, and space to listen to Jesus without an agenda.

I am very grateful to you, my Immanuel family, for making possible this longer-than-usual vacation. Deb Tomchek, of course, led well in my absence, and the staff, vestry, and many volunteers cared well for the needs of our congregation. Thank you all!

As I reenter the good life of loving and leading you, I’m encouraged by what we’re flowing into: Vacation Bible School, Rock the Block, Life Groups, the deeper discipleship of giving, fall classes on Deborah and on Confirmation, as well as the regular rhythms of our worship and life together. Summer nears its end, yet our participation in the Refuge, Reconciliation, and Renewal from Jesus continues.

And if you yourself have not created space for a regular sabbath where for at least a few hours you can “go free from the tasks and intentions of your workdays,” I encourage you to do so. Our Creator calls such a space holy (Genesis 2:1-3), and indeed commands that we enter into the trust-deepening freedom of weekly rest (Exodus 20:8-11).

Your Pastor in Christ,