Council for Health and Human Service Ministries

Word and Deed: Thoughts on Faith-Based Leadership

Ten Simple Tips to Remember the Sabbath

Leading up to CHHSM's 69th Annual Meeting, I wrote reflections each month from some of the writings of our keynote speaker, Wayne Muller, who is the author of Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives, Learning to Pray and How Then Shall We Live?. During our keynote dinner and lunch, Muller lifted many spirits when he shared insights, stories, poems, humorous anecdotes, and practices to help us become more aware of the need for Sabbath time. Moving forward, we close with the following reminders from Muller on how to develop some simple Sabbath time.

Take a deep breath, say aaaahhhhhhh, and savor the moment . . . peace be with you.

Light a candle. Set aside sacred time for a family meal, for prayer or meditation, or simply quiet reading. Set a candle before you, offer a simple blessing and let the world fall away.

Practice thanksgiving. Give thanks before meals, upon rising, when going to sleep. During Sabbath, we are less concerned with what is missing and more grateful for what has already been given.

Invite a Sabbath pause. Choose one common act--touching a doorknob, turning on a faucet or hearing the phone ring. Throughout the day when this occurs, stop and take three silent, mindful breaths. Then go on.

Take a walk. Stroll slowly to nowhere in particular for 30 minutes. Let your senses guide you. Stop and observe deeply whatever attracts you--a tree, a stone, a flower. Breathe.

Pamper your body. Take a guilt-free nap. Take a leisurely bath with music, special scents, and candles. Walk barefoot in the grass.

Turn off the technology. Turn off the telephone, the computer, the TV, the washer and dryer. Create a period of time when you will not be disturbed or seduced by what technology demands of us.

Prepare a Sabbath meal--or a Sabbath cup of tea. Even if you are alone, you can choose foods you love, put flowers on the table, take time to enjoy every dish, give thanks to the bounty of the earth.

Seek companionship. One of the most precious gifts you can offer is to be a place of refuge, a Sabbath for one another. Ask for companionship when you lose your way. Give quiet time and attention to others.

Reset your inner compass. Make a list of the values and principles that guide your life--both those you follow and those you would like to follow. Speak them aloud, alone or with loved ones.

Surrender a problem. The Sabbath reminds us that forces larger than ourselves are at work healing the world. Imagine that these forces already know how to solve your problem. Turn it over to their care.

Shirley Nelson

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