The ancient Hebrews knew the importance of un-programmed relaxation time—time to refrain from all conventional work. In order to insure sacred time free from usual work the ancient Hebrews established a holy day: the Sabbath.
In American culture, remembrance of the Sabbath is the most ignored of the Ten Commandments.
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What did Jesus say about the Sabbath? He said the Sabbath was created for people, not people for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). He meant we don’t have to get legalistic about it. If someone’s ill, by all means care for them on the Sabbath. If a cow is caught in a fence, by all means, release it, even if it’s the Sabbath. But, (and this is the point) Jesus never did away with the Sabbath. Jesus observed and honored it (Matthew 5:17-18).
In recent North American history business owners closed shop and refused to conduct business on Sundays. Throughout the last century Sunday was treated as a Sabbath day. People spent Sundays with their families, had brunch, went to church, and relaxed in a hammock with a cold glass of lemon spritzer. On Sundays people spent leisure time in the garden, tending to their tomato vines and flower beds. It was a day for picnics and barbeques, for walking the pooch, and splashing in the pool. It was a time for a passage of scripture or a song on the ukulele.
Now most businesses keep their doors open on Sundays. Clubs and schools hold meetings and galas on Sundays. Few are bothered. The conventional sense of Sabbath vanished. It has lost its hold throughout America cities, suburbs, and ranch lands. If we want a day of rest we’ll have to create it. We’ll have to value it enough to carve it out of our busy lives and hear the squawks of protest from family and business partners.
I strive for at least one half day a week for centering prayer, devotions, reading, and writing—no other commitments.[1] This day of rest is a lifeline. It’s a key to holistic health—a time to counteract the incessant activity.
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David Frenette’s book The Path of Centering Prayer reenergized the Centering Prayer tradition with its fresh insights and teachings. Centering Prayer Meditations: Effortless Contemplation to Deepen Your Experience of God is a wonderful companion audio program created to be equally rewarding as a stand-alone guide – gives listeners an immersive resource to learn contemplative prayer, step by step and in the moment. With clarity and compassionate presence, Frenette explains the essential principles of this contemplative practice for both new and seasoned practitioners, and then guides us experientially through core prayers and meditations.
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