Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Rest and Recovery – Digital Sabbath Series
**WE INTERRUPT THE FRUIT SERIES FOR A DIGITAL SABBATH**
We’ve gotten a little slack with our “Digital Sabbath” over the past month. You guys know what its like: life is busy, kids get sick (or you do), there are parties and weddings and birthday gatherings to attend, things to clean, movies to watch (I gave two days to “Stranger Things” a while back…)…
These last few months has seen much change throughout the world, personally and otherwise.
So, yep. We’ve gotten out of the habit of having a “no digital day.” BUT, we've still been making time for rest and recovery. I think that in this current global season, we all need a day a week to pray and think and listen and rest. A day to stop talking and arguing and declaring and posting. A day to consider others, and other angles; to let our heart rest, rather than wrestle.
That’s part of Sabbath, too.
There is a time to let your voice be heard, to be brave and share your story, for protest and the words of a prophet, and to stand strong in the midst of adversity.
But you also need to rest and grieve, or rest and rejoice. You need a safe space to tell the truth, and a humble place to ask for forgiveness. You need room to listen and understand, rather than point the finger and demand.
Don’t forget our common union, that thread of holiness connecting us all, regardless of it all. What I’m seeing is a huge disconnect between many of us, on all sides. And I get it. It’s easier to believe that those who don’t think the same as you (me) are wrong and awful, rather than just different and experiencing something that you (I) are (am) not. So while we do need to tell our stories, and our truths, and protest, and rejoice, and grieve, and take to the internet (and the streets) and post, and blog, and tweet; please make room for empathy and listening. Please consider ‘the other', not as an enemy, but as a teacher – someone you can learn from – who can help you understand the world outside of your context.
This is what I’ve been spending my Sabbaths (and beyond) doing (trying, at least). It’s not easy, but it’s changing me for the better.
Can I ask you to pray?
Pray for your leaders and each other. Pray for peace and grace and mercy and truth. But above all, pray for the “least” among you; the vulnerable and those who don’t have a voice, or who’s voices are being threatened. History has shown us that it is these beautiful ones who pay the price for the rest of us to learn our lessons (my heart is breaking).
Pray we start to learn differently.
And on this Sabbath, take some time to sow love into the world. Put aside the arguments, the “us and them,” the fight and the clash. Think of how we are flying through space on this tiny blue planet, in the expanse of the universe and beyond, perfectly (delicately) placed to promote life and growth… And wonder at the miracle of us all being here together.
Much love, Lizzy (and Jesse).
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