Mindful Breaths
William Pleve, pictured above, is my great-grandfather on my mom’s side. He was born on February 29, 1876. That means in actual birthdays he would be only 36 years old as his birthday falls on Leap day, meaning he celebrates only every four years!. My niece’s son was born on February 29, 2008. So technically he could say he is only 3 instead of 12; but who would honestly say that, especially at age 12? *smile*
So, this is Leap Year. We all get an extra day, and those born on Leap Day will have a most special birthday this year.
What will you do with your extra, special day? What LEAP will you make? It occurs on a Saturday this year, so that makes it more fun. It occurs during Lent, since Ash Wednesday is a couple days before, which makes it interesting.
My small group named Sabbath Pause is reading a book called Sabbath by Wayne Muller. After each brief chapter it lists a practice. Those practices can be a leap for a lot of us. None of them are difficult, but they take vigilance to accomplish them. Some examples are:
1. “Find a candle that holds some beauty or meaning for you. When you have set aside some time – before a meal, or during prayer, meditation, or simply quiet reading – set the candle before you, say a simple prayer or blessing for yourself or someone you love, and light the candle. Take a few mindful breaths. For just this moment, let the hurry of the world fall away.”
2. “Choose at least one heavily used appliance or device – the phone, tv, computer, washer, dryer – and let them rest for a Sabbath period. Whether it is a morning, afternoon, or entire day, surrender to a quality of time when you will not be disturbed, seduced, or responsive to what our technologies have to offer.”
3. “Choose one common act during your day to serve as a Sabbath pause. Whenever this arises – possibly when you touch a doorknob, hear a phone ring, stop at a stoplight while driving – simply stop, take three silent, mindful breaths, and then go through the door or answer the phone. See how it changes you to take these tiny Sabbath moments every day.”
I tried the last one today and did it a couple times and then forgot about it. It will take a lot of practice, persistence, and patience to do it every time. Yet, I’m going to take this leap beginning on February 29, Leap Day, for the month of March using February as a time of practice. Maybe I’ll get it down so that I do it daily in March. So take a leap beginning on February 29th with me and let me know what you will be doing, whether it be only on that day or for a set period of time. It could be your Sabbath ritual. As the Bible tells us: “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy”. It’s not a suggestion but a command just like “Thou Shalt Not Steal.” Something interesting to think about.
