It's Sunday again - my chosen day for Sabbath. I try to set aside one day a week in which I don't aim to accomplish anything - no chores, no tasks, no to-do's. I'm not perfect at it. Sometimes the laundry doesn't get finished on Saturday, and there is a little bit to complete before the new week begins. Luckily for me, this weekend is a three day weekend, so I have a little extra time for doing the things I think need to be done before I can relax then enjoy a week of work. I don't need to stress about finishing the laundry.
I used to think the Sabbath was just about taking a day to rest. You know - God worked hard to create the universe, so on the seventh day, He was worn down and rested. He told the Israelites they should do no work on the Sabbath to follow His model. And the people were dutiful - condemning Jesus for putting forth effort on the Sabbath by healing the sick or snacking on wheat. As usual, we misinterpreted the message.
Today, I realize that Sabbath is not based on the idea of rest, though rest is a beneficial result. Rather, the Sabbath is about Trust. It is about remembering that we are complete in God, that all our true needs - Oneness, Forgiveness, Love - are already met. It is about recognizing that God will take care of the minutiae (our physical needs) if we ask Him to. And if we realize our Trust, we will know that we are safe, we are loved, and we are cared for in a way that is infinitely better than our attempts to take care of ourselves.
Trust is not always the first inclination. I see my to-do list, and the fear that I will not be complete until it is accomplished creeps in. That is a ridiculous fear, and I am learning to let it go. We fear that we will not get what we want or what we think we need, and that fear mucks up our perception and subsequent actions. Fear is the root of all evil.
When I dive into a work week with my attention on all the responsibilities and expectations of the worldly roles I have chosen (most of which I've placed on myself), it is very easy for me to lose sight of Trust, and fear is a persistent temptation. But I don't want fear to limit the good God wants me to do on this planet. I am learning to reject fear - to say, "I don't want that" when the temptation to fear rises in my mind. When I am free from fear, God is free to perform through me - to love, to accept, to embrace, to forgive, so that all the world might be healed.
So, today I will Trust, and I will rest in the knowledge that God is good and I am loved and safe.
May God lead us all to Trust.
In Love and Light,
Jennifer
