Be Still. Stop.

Evotional on Wednesday, September 22

Some words from Wayne Muller in his book Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives

When we breathe, we do not stop inhaling because we have taken in all the oxygen we will ever need, but because we have all the oxygen we need for this breath. Then we exhale, release carbon dioxide, and make room for more oxygen. Sabbath, like the breath, allows us to imagine we have done enough work for this day. Do not be anxious about tomorrow, Jesus said again and again. Let the work of this day be sufficient…

Sabbath says, “Be still. Stop. There is no rush to get to the end, because we are never finished. Take time to rest, and eat, and drink, and be refreshed. And in the gentle rhythm of that refreshment, listen to the sound the heart makes as it speaks the quiet truth of what is needed.”

Both in our worship and in our adult Sunday school class, we’ve been thinking openly and expansively about the practice of prayer in our daily lives. In that vein, I’m finding Wayne Muller’s words helpful—especially his line, “Listen to the sound the heart makes as it speaks the quiet truth of what is needed.” The connection between prayer and Sabbath isn’t always automatic for us, I think. We readily acknowledge listening as a form of prayer, but it’s hard to create time for quiet amid the busy clutter of our day-to-day lives.

Maybe it won’t be a whole day for you this week. Maybe not even a whole afternoon or even an hour. But could you carve out some time for Sabbath today? And in that restful quiet, might your prayer simply be your willingness to listen?

Peace,
Pastor Ben