Skip to main content

Hard Work


       It's a tricky business, trying to thoughtfully make a new, healthy life. It means changes to diet and exercise routines, starting educational endeavors and projects that we always promise ourselves we'd do "someday." The thing that has stopped me in my tracks is stopping. One of the things I love about not working for someone else is that I have Sundays off. It's a time to set aside to spend with God and family. Then Sunday comes and I have to say, "ummmmm."

                Job #1 is caregiver to an 86 year old man, an adolescent dog and myself. I am on-duty 24/7. I'm not needed all that time, but Sunday as a family time makes Sunday like every other day. Maybe more so. How do stay-at-home moms get a Sabbath while still making it about family?

                Job #2 is as a writer. So, on Sundays do I not read anything? Do no research? Write nothing? Not think about whatever has become my temporary obsession, or anything that might become a temporary obsession if I start thinking about it? For the sake of mental health, that's a really good idea, but practically? On Sundays, I have to become someone I'm not? Excuse me while I laugh...and weep.

                Of course, the other part is that Sunday is a day focused on God. I consider at least part of my reading, writing and research to be a ministry. So how do ministers separate the time focused on God in their ministry from the time focused on God for the Sabbath?

                In some ways, holidays are easier. At least with a holiday there's a theme (and perhaps that's a clue for Sundays.) Holidays  also harder. When I worked in retail I learned to hate holidays. Sometimes I had to miss the holiday completely because I had to work. Sometimes, the holiday was shoved down our throats in the worst, most commercial way, with holiday spirits and holiday stress bringing out the worst in everyone involved, especially in me.

                I have tended to spend my holidays quietly, contemplation on the meaning of the day being preferable to all the fun, games, and socializing that are staples of holidays for others. I know that celebration is a positive, healthy thing.  The challenge is to find a way to make the quiet and contemplation of the holidays different from the quiet and contemplation of other days - and to make it a celebration for everyone involved.

                Stopping, resting,  or celebrating in a purposeful, thoughtful, healthy, re-creational manner is hard work.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more