Being in Time

Yesterday I participated in a day-long Advent reflection on the Rituals of Sabbath and Spiritual Practice led by Duke Divinity professor Lauren Winner.  This event was hosted by Wesley Theological Seminary and funded by the Lilly Endowment Foundation. I say 'participated' because Ms. Winner suggested we try to rid ourselves of using of the phrase "spent time" as in "I spent my day harvesting apples."   Her thought, as I understand it, is that we commodify time when we 'spend' it.  We exchange time in order to produce or reap something tangible from it.  

Another way to think about time is "How are we to be in time?" An especially important question to ask ourselves in the season of Advent.  Dr. Winner's focus was to think about how we are to be in "Sabbath" time - a time when we rest together with God.  She pointed out that there exist many ancient creation

 accounts -- all very similar.  What distinguishes the creation stories is that other gods created humans as a replacement for the god while the god rested. The Judeo-Christian God invites humanity into the activity of rest with Godself.

Later in the day we were given the assignment to go off with a couple of scripture readings and contemplate aka 'rest' with them.  Taking my preassigned readings I went outside to sit in the crisp, fresh air.

I wasn't into it.  Wasn't feeling anything profound.  I kept reading the texts.  Nothing. God wasn't speaking to me at the moment.

So -- I started thinking about what I was feeling --

**Glad that I wasn't preoccupied with emails, Face Book updates, and cell phones.

**Thought about the family and where each of us 'were at' happiness wise in our lives. 

**Bored - I started recording my feelings and wondering if I was really going to turn them into something utilitarian.  (Guilty)

As I journaled, I looked back at those preassigned texts and realized they were, providentially, some of my favorites passages.  Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest..." John 14 "My peace I give to you...I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Jesus gives us one rather big caveat in John 14: If you love me, you will obey what I command. 

That includes entering into God's Sabbath rest -- being in time rather than spending time. 

Image: THE SABBATH REST by Samuel Hirszenberg (1866-1908)

Oil on canvas 1894