Rehearsing for Forever

Today, the second Sunday of December, was a breath of heaven as I walked the dog in the warm mid-afternoon. There was an old Amy Grant Christmas carol called "Breath of Heaven", imagining what it was like to be Mary, the mother of Jesus. A 60 degree day in December is a much lesser wonder, to be sure, a lesser gift. Yet, still this afternoon was a breath of heaven to me.

Taking Sabbath rest on Sundays is like rehearsing for forever, when all the restlessnes, strife and toil of this world will have passed away, leaving only peace in the presence of God. I used to think heaven sounded so boring, no controversy, lazy people reclining on puffy clouds and so on. I think this is what young people tend to think. 

In the quiet of Sabbath afternoons, I often have the chance to observe my cats sleeping in the late afternoon sun, seemingly without a care in the world. My dog and I usually treat ourselves to a longer walk in nature, sometimes with friends. It is a time to observe the way nature restores itself through every season. As in 2009 when I went through treatment for my first bout of breast cancer, it seems I am being drawn into a season of slowing down and resting once more. Back in 2009, I began to discover the role of photography as I had to slow my pace. Taking pictures has brought me to observe the smaller beautiful things all around us every day. I still take photographs as a ritual of observation. Through this also come the discovery that our human eyes often see subtle details a camera cannot. 

Sabbath rest is a profound form of protest. While the rest of the world continues its 24x7 spin at manic pace, Sabbatarians stop. Work takes a break in honor of our Creator who rested on the seventh day. I have come to depend upon the rhythm of this rest. Pausing from work allows my thoughts and feelings to catch up with me: the processing of the week before, the resetting of my soul together with a community of worshippers, and the preparation for the week to come.

On these days of rest, there is time to focus on love relationships. Did I have more time today to really listen to the guy with whom I disagreed? Did I love him well? It is a day I can remind myself that relationships are more about loving other people than winning. I might have a longer conversation with a friend or bring a meal to someone who needs encouragement. People are bringing me meals these days. I am reminded of God's calling to love my neighbors and to show hospitality. When we gather at our church, I am reminded how God loves all kinds of people, even the ones who annoy me. I can let others be first without overthinking that.

In other ways, Sabbath is like rehearsing for forever. Before we get to Sunday, our music team rehearses the music. Rehearsal is good, necessary, not always easy or fun. Yet we need it. With practice we may even find healing and help in the middle of our messes. By Sunday, with the whole congregation singing God's praises together, we are able to experience a taste of heaven. This is especially so in a multi-cultural context since the Bible points to a future where people from every culture and language group will come together to unceasingly worship God. 

"What is the chief end of man," asks the Westminster shorter catechism. "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

Sundays are a reminder to look up, a reminder of the awe and wonder of God and the miracle that we get to take part in God's story, that His eternal purposes are being accomplished no matter what is going on all around us or within us right now. The only true source of Shalom makes His presence known through the Scripture, through the lives of the saints, through the preaching of godly leaders. Throughout the rest of the week, it's so easy to become focused upon ourselves or upon circumstances. It is easy to get carried along with the tide of the necessary minutia of living. We are overwhelmed by change. Sundays are a reminder of the unchanging eternal, that things will one day be exactly as they ought to be.

If you could do any one thing forever and ever, what would it be? In our daily thoughts, decisions, actions, words, and songs are we not rehearsing for eternity? We need to have those resets so we are practicing what is meant to last.