Sabbath revisited - Becoming awake to the moment

Still thinking about Sabbath, rest, summer. It's changing shape a bit though. It has to. Change is always happening isn't it? I was thinking about some of the responses to my first post. So many of my friends and family are in the midst of raising precious young kids. A sacred space for certain. Sleeping in and endless hours of reading and movie-watching aren't exactly in surplus during those seasons are they? But does that mean there isn't Sabbath? Of course not. Of course not. Sabbath can come in so many different ways and I think it's there for us in each season of life. It must be. So how do we tune into it? I think for me, it's simply being present. Awake in the moment. This is so much harder than we think. So much of my life has been spent worrying over what is to come. Ruminating about this or that. Anxiety killing the present moment. Much of my life has been with physical struggles - this has also strangled my present moment. Wishing for a new body, a new way for my body to work. Much of my life has been spent worrying over what others are thinking - did I do something? what should I have done? etc, etc. Ugh. Lots of worrying moments. So this Sabbath time is slowly teaching me that something else is available. Being present. Flourish where you are. I'm amazed at how it helps diminish my anxiety. And for someone who struggles with that, this is huge. That old saying - "Stop and smell the roses" - it really does have a lot of truth to it. Taking a walk with Jonathan on his last day of summer yesterday. We stopped. We enjoying flowers. We smelled them. We felt some that were thick and buttery soft. We gently held a poppy the size of a grapefruit. We remarked on the swelling bud of a flower yet to bloom. What color will it be? We smelled the massive peonies all around our town, amazed at their soft pink glow. Stunning flowers everywhere. These things help me stop. Enjoy. Be. Not each day will have unstructured time to do this. But we can still be present. Take a deep breath. Stop and really listen to the person sharing with you, instead of thinking about what you will say next. (oy, that's a big one, right?). Enjoy that bite of chocolate. Really. And enjoy resting when you do sit down to your favorite show, rather than thinking about what you have to do next. Enjoy reading this tiny book with your 3-year-old and just sitting on the floor hanging out. So many moments in each day. Sit in them. Be in them. So, here's to trying to live in the present. Let's try this together.

Sabbath days and Summer

I had a realization a few days ago. People have been asking how the summer is going and as I formulated my answer I've come to realize that this is the FIRST time Jonathan and I have ever enjoy a true 'summer' since we've been married. As a teacher he'd been given time off during the summer months, but the odd summer job was essential in order to make ends meet. He's been in administration for 3 years now and with the pay increase, we didn't HAVE to have a summer job, but here's what I discovered: Last year we were in the midst of our move and he literally went from one admin job to his new one up here in Breck. With the 2 hour commute, no less! So, I was packing up the house last yea, he was back and forth working up here and tying up loose ends in the Springs. Oy. Not restful. In fact, TOTALLY stressful. Two years ago I had a cardiac arrest and that provided a bit of a damper on the summer vacation. That is the understatement of the year people! ;) So this year. What is happening? Rest. Sabbath. I think I'm finally understanding what the 'big deal' about Sabbath is now that we have entered it. Not just a day of Sabbath, but an extended Sabbath. Sabbath = "to cease or disist," "to stop," "to take a break," "to celebrate." Or another Hebrew word for the same - Menuchah, which means "abode, a settled home, a place to be." I love this and feel like I'm starting on a journey of understanding what it is. At the moment, I'm simply enjoying it. Taking it in. Jonathan and I can't get enough of the smells that Breckenridge provides. The smell of aspen leaves after a mountain rain. The smell of the woods across our street. The view of the clouds over the mountains. The rays of sun throughout the day as they cascade on the landscape around us. The wildflowers all around. It's healing. The energy of the mountains really does heal. It's one of God's most amazing sites I think. It is utterly entertaining for us to sit on our rocking chairs on our deck and ... that's it! Sit there and talk. Drink tea. Laugh. Have silence. The unstructured rhythm of these days is healing us too. Waking up ... whenever! Oh the bliss. Unscheduled time together. It is so utterly wonderful. I am enjoying friendship with my husband in new ways. Delighting in watching him work in our yard on these projects he's had in his heart for years. Now we have a home we can do them in! What joy. I love watching him tinker on his bike for hours - painting it, putting it back together. I also love playing a board game or watching fun TV shows and movies. It feels like a vacation IN our home; IN our town. Now, I know this is a special season. And I am taking it in and savoring it. Two more weeks. And really, I don't feel a count-down until it's over. I am enjoying the moment today offers. Having this is teaching me how important it is. Everyone needs this. Space. An extended time to breathe, imagine, and maybe just sleep. Recover. I'm just grateful is happening. So grateful.