The following article is one I published in EDUSC's Crosswalk magazine. I thought I'd post it here because I'm off today to look at leaves on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I told my husband just the other day, that when I die, I'd like my ashes scattered on the Parkway. He said, "You just want to get back to your Cherokee Land." I think he's right.
Out the road from Juneau, Alaska (the only road into or out of town), is a spot where one may pull the car over and take in the view. At mile marker thirty-three, the side of the road drops at an angle into Lynn Canal. I’m in the Tongass National Forest, a temperate rain forest, and I’ve come with my friend to watch whales. It’s an afternoon for holy leisure. My friend, Maggie [Ross], is a fisherwoman. She heard about the location of the whales on her marine radio. We find a place to sit, and I wait in expectation when one of the whales swims up to my left still far enough away that I need to use binoculars to see it clearly. Up and down, its blowhole sounding the sneeze-like release of air, the whale seems to be getting closer when suddenly, it surfaces right below me—not twenty feet from where I am sitting on the rock outcrop. The whale stays there for about five minutes feeding along the edge of the estuary before it goes further out into the cove. I follow the whale with the binoculars, and I am so excited I find it hard to believe that another one has surfaced not far away. All in all, five or six whales come to the surface during the afternoon while we sit there experiencing what it means to have Sabbath time.
What brought me to Alaska was a summer of study with which I would renew my teaching license. I had a long list of books to read and copious papers to write. In the midst of all that work, however, I also had the opportunity to experience some of the most amazing scenery and to observe wildlife that I’ve only seen in books. The time was a life-renewing gift to me.
Sabbath time, or Shabbat, is that time-honored practice in our Judeo-Christian culture that allows for the renewal of life—what I experienced in observing the whales, eagles, and other wildlife in Alaska. Unfortunately for most of us, Sabbath is not as accessible as it once was. That’s why we must have intentionality in our practice of Sabbath. That intentionality is really as simple as taking a walk.
Walking and sitting meditation is a form of prayerful awareness that has come to western Christianity through the Buddhist tradition. It involves “mindfulness” and can be practiced in twenty minutes. Choosing to walk the labyrinth as a form of prayerful meditation also provides Sabbath time. Many retreat centers and churches now have labyrinths on their property making them more accessible to the average person.
Another way to be intentional about Sabbath time is to simply go to a favorite place to be quiet. Perhaps that place is in your own home, a room set aside for quiet, meditative practice. Perhaps it’s the local park that provides the space for rest and renewal. Whether that practice is strictly contemplative, or whether it involves writing, reading, or playing music, it can be a place where Shabbat is experienced.
Sabbath is so important to our overall health that taking a retreat at least once a year, if not more often, is vital. My favorite time of year for retreat is the week before Christmas when we are deep into Advent. Retreats can vary in length and design, so it’s best to ask a trusted friend who has taken retreats regularly for suggestions that best suit the needs at hand.
The most important piece to remember about Sabbath is that it is NOT business as usual. We don’t take a Sabbath day to cook for our family or to do the laundry, nor do we take one to write a long overdue article or catch up on paperwork—if the intention is simply to do more, or a different kind of work, that’s not Sabbath. Rather, Sabbath time is time spent with God. Sabbath time includes worship as well as leisure. Attending the liturgy is certainly an important way to find rest and renewal and to honor God. The Church provides for those needs on Sundays and other days, but we can also pray one or more of the Daily Offices either alone or corporately giving us time to experience little Sabbaths with God.
One of my favorite ways to spend time with God is in my garden. When the irises and day lilies are blooming, I enjoy sitting on the porch or walking around gazing at them. Of course, I enjoy getting my hands dirty pulling weeds and planting new additions in the beds as well. Taking a drive in the mountains or going on a hike are also ways to experience Sabbath time. Walking slowly, paying attention to what’s underfoot, and stopping to look at each flower and tree adds to the benefits Sabbath time. Just try naming the trees in the woods! It is important to appreciate each plant and animal with which we share the natural environment.
A regular practice of Sabbath helps to keep us from becoming the slaves of too much work. In today’s society, we all have far too busy schedules, but giving a little space for personal restoration and acknowledging that God is present even in our busyness is far too important to ignore. Like God, we should be able to stop and rest and say, “It’s good.” It seems to me that what most of us really want to experience in life is a sense of contentment—an ability to live in the present moment—without fear or anxiety. During that summer in Juneau, I had several opportunities to go out on Maggie’s boat to fish for salmon. While trolling on Auke Bay, the world slipped further and further away. We were surprised occasionally by sea lions and dolphins, but fishing was at the heart of that Sabbath time. We would bait the hooks, set the downrigger, and send the line into the deep unknown waiting to see what would happen. That’s what Shabbat is for—a time to bait the hook, then wait for God’s surprises, fully expecting God to bless us in ways which, in retrospect, will be more than we can ask or imagine.
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