The well-being of creation does not depend on endless work. – Walter Brueggemann.
Anxiety System – Digital Sabbath Series
“Sabbath, in the first instance, is not about worship. It is about work stoppage. It is about withdrawal from the anxiety system of Pharaoh, the refusal to let one’s life be defined by production and consumption and the endless pursuit of private well-being.” – Walter Brueggemann.
Look, Brueggs is boss (Walter Brueggemann). But I would also suggest that work stoppage is PART of our worship.
The anxiety system of Pharaoh is one of insatiable productivity. Pharaoh built an empire on the backs of slaves because the system couldn’t be big enough, grand enough, strong enough, without abuse, neglect, and oppression. The more it grew, the more hungry the empire became, the more the people were treated like commodities rather than in community.
It kind of sounds familiar…
That's the why the Exodus story is so powerful. The God of the Israelites, the one they called YHWH, was a different God. He was relational, rather than empire driven; a God of love and peace rather than dominion and commodity.
“The divine rest on the seventh day of creation has made clear (a) that YHWH is not a workaholic, (b) that YHWH is not anxious about the full functioning of creation, and (c) that the well-being of creation does not depend on endless work.” Says Brueggs. (1.)
Part of our worship – our devotion to the kind of life that honors peace and relationship and love and grace above things and money and fame and winning – is to stop and withdraw from the way of living that always demands more at any cost.
Stop.
Relax.
Breathe.
Look your loved ones in the eye.
Hold hands while you walk.
Drink the naked air into your lungs deep and full.
Rest, renew, restore.
Do it for you. But also do it for us: our world is careening out of control, and the temptation is to panic and work harder and do more and let anxiety reign. But I believe part of the solution is to stop and re-evaluate our values, take the time to KNOW each other, and love each other, and the earth. Perhaps a commitment to the practice of work stoppage will be part of how we save the world.
Happy Sabbath, dear friends.
Written by Lizzy
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