Sabbath Bubble Bath?
Have you taken your Sabbath time this week? If not, then how about right now. Take a few moments. Put your feet up. Take several deep breaths and read along. Sabbath is an important time in your week.
Often, it can be the most important time. It is that time that we block out and keep sacred each week. Taking a complete twenty-four hours of Sabbath is the ideal. That probably does not work for most of us right now, and that is okay. It is something to work towards. But, do block out some time and keep it sacred each week.
In our crazy busy lives, we need Sabbath time more than ever. It is a time of rest, renewal, and relaxation. It is a time just for you and God. Sabbath time can be a Sabbath walk, a Sabbath hour, a Sabbath bubble bath. It is an escape time to regain your inner wellbeing. It is soul work. How is it with your soul? Have you taken stock lately if your soul is free of hate, unforgiveness, disdain, and chaos? Is it empty enough to let God in and to reside there?
In the book Sabbath by Wayne Muller, one of my favorite practices advocated in the chapter titled “A New Beginning” is the “Mindfulness Bell”. Upon hearing the bell chime, everyone stops and takes three, silent, mindful breaths. This bell instigates a mindful, Sabbath pause that often reorients a person to consider the most important things in life at the time. What could your mindfulness bell be?
Could it be that every time your phone rings, or a text message comes in, or you hit a red light while driving that you take three, deep, mindful, Sabbath breaths and then go on, maybe a bit more soul oriented? Think about your trigger and observe it for three days. Then see how long you can continue it. Take good care of your soul. God is counting on you to do so!
Below is an amazing Sabbath moment of mine. The first picture is the Matterhorn at 5:30am before sunrise and the second is it at 5:39am after sunrise. A truly holy, God moment of Sabbath just standing in awe. Not all Sabbath moments are this spectacular, but all draw us closer to God.
