Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and ”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, October 5, 2024
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
The one who created all that is took time out to rest. In yesterday’s full text, if you read it, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, tells Moses he’s doing way too much and absolutely needs to rest. He offers a highly specific structure for governing the people so that Moses can, in fact, do appropriate self-care. And if God makes a point of taking a day to just chill out after doing what only God can do, we would do well to follow suit.
When I’m up against a deadline, it’s not unusual for me to work ten or twelve hour days, pushing myself to point of feeling sick in order to get as much done as possible. (Actually, I work a lot better under deadlines like that, but there are moments when I really do take it to far, and I pay for it over the next few days of utter exhaustion and misery). I try to balance things by making myself a “Not To Do” list—things I write down one paper that I’m not going to get done, so that I can get them out of my head and focus on what actually has to be done. This leaves me the time I need to take that sabbath rest—an afternoon, a day, a weekend, whatever I need to recharge my mind, body, and spirit. It’s not optional. If I don’t do it, I’m no good to anyone. Do you relate?
How can I build more sabbath time into my regular schedule?
