In this episode, Ilona and Justin dig into the ancient practice of sabbath. They justify why this can’t be a biblical commandment we conveniently ignore simply because we’ve got a long weekend to-do list, and why a regular day of rest is necessary for our souls to sustain quality work and relationships. They discuss practical ideas for how to sabbath, borrowing from Pete Scazzero’s framework of Stop, Rest, Delight, and Contemplate. How can we integrate this practice, setting realistic expectations, no matter if we’re single or married with kids?
Ideas We Highlight:
- What sabbath isn’t (clue: not just a day off or a day to not do anything)
- How sabbath is a reminder that we are not in control and how it challenges us to be counter-cultural in our production-addicted society
- Setting healthy and helpful expectations for sabbath
- Ways to think about sabbath depending on your current life stage
Reference:
- Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human by John Mark Comer. Find it on Amazon.
- Every Good Endeavor by Tim Killer. Find it on Amazon.
- The Sabbath by Rabbi Abraham Heschel. Find it on Amazon.
- “4 Steps to a Meaningful Sabbath” by Pete Scazzero at Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.
- For more teaching and resources on sabbath, check out practicingtheway.org.
Reflection:
Begin where you are and take your next step!
- Make a plan to sabbath this week: pick a day (or if you’ve never taken a sabbath, perhaps start with a half day), and organize your week in such a way that you can enter that day ready to rest.
- Consider what activities feel appropriate for your sabbath. Ask yourself these two questions as you filter various tasks, hobbies, and interests: Is this restful? Is it worshipful?
- If you haven’t yet, download the Rule for Life template to reflect on and implement some of the practices from this series.
