Sabbath

I recently re-listened to a great sermon on Sabbath. The speaker (Rob Bell) talked about the things sabbath is and isn't, about developing a rhythm of life. I was struck this time by a statement he made that went something like, "Sabbath is about doing the things that bring life."

I'm taking Sabbath today, in my own way.

I slept in. 8:00 might not seem like sleeping in, but it's an extra hour and a half from what I get on work-days, and means that I was in bed (mostly) asleep for nearly 8 1/2 hours.

Read a novel for a bit when I woke up.

Headed out into the living room, and lit candles. Popped Jason Upton in the stereo, and read scripture and talked with Jesus for a while.

Spent an hour catching up on my budgeting. (This may not seem life giving to the rest of the world either, but it's been hanging over my head for a week, and it feels great to be able to cross it off my list).

Making a list for the day. I know, most of the world doesn't find lists life-giving either, but I like to see what's on the agenda.

Chatted with my roommate about our respective plans for the day.

Going to make some breakfast here, soon.

The rest of the day has things like shopping (there are items I want/need that can only be purchased at certain locations in the city - special bath salts etc.) I'm going to buy some art supplies for an upcoming event I'm hosting. I'm going to buy a curtain to close off our laundry room and make our house look a bit nicer. I'm on the hunt for the perfect frame for a beautiful photograph of Lake Minnewanka that I recently purchased. I'm going to buy candles.

Later on I'm going to talk on the phone with a dear friend, and possibly go and hear Brian McLaren speak (my roommate just told me about that one this morning... don't have the details yet).

I think I'll probably cook something nice.

I'm going to burn incense.

I'm going to do a bit of cleaning.

I'm going to rest, and hang with Jesus as I do all these other things.

seeing birds...

I've had two odd "bird" encounters today...

The first was as I was walking to the train this morning (before I knew that it was going to make me very late). I was studying the clouds, and noticed one in particular, hanging separately from the others. Shaped like a dying bird (a swan, or maybe a duck), plummeting from the sky... Caught my attention, my breath, watching until the cloud finally morphed shape and joined another bank of cloud.

At lunch, just now, I was having a rather intense conversation about Jesus, and other things - big moral issues, with a coworker. She loves to pick my brain - to ask huge questions, and then hear what the questions make me think about. Today we talked about heaven, about rape, about abortion among other things. And for several minutes as we spoke, I was aware of a crow (raven? - how do you tell the difference?) sitting on a light post across the roof, watching. Eventually I glanced down, then back up, and it was gone.

This is an odd, off-kilter sort of day. Clouds with beautiful, majestic birds plummeting from the sky. A dark bird witnessing a conversation about Jesus. All of the other things I already wrote about.

And yet, as I walked back from the restaurant where I picked up lunch for myself and my coworker, all I could hear were some song lyrics...

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
And my spirit exalts in God my Saviour
For He has looked with mercy on my lowliness
And so my name will be forever exalted
For the mighty God has done great things for me
And His mercy will reach from age to age

And holy, holy, holy is His name

(Steve Bell - The Magnificat)

Discombobulated

I do love that word - discomboulated. So descriptive. So accurate for what I'm feeling this morning.

I was up too late last night. Bible study, a conversation in my stairwell, a little bit of tv to unwind, some reading and praying... much later than I've been up in a while.

The conversation in my stairwell with two friends has left me with much on my mind and heart... praying for these two, who Jesus is doing beautiful things in, and who are facing difficult new things right now... praying for peace, for rest...

I dreamt again last night. That makes five nights in a row of significant dreams that I've retained. That has got to be a new record. And, as much as I'm working to be okay with the whole dreaming issue, five nights in a row, with four of those five being somewhat disturbing dreams, is getting to be a little much.

I'm carrying last night's dream a bit... the implications are touching on painful things...

It took me an hour and twenty minutes to get to work this morning. It normally takes forty five minutes. Ask me how excited I am about public transit right now...

I was late for work because of the public transit issues.

I really needed to be on time today.

I'm drinking tea, but it's not helping yet.

My thoughts are going in a hundred different directions. I feel like my head is whipping around in circles trying to follow the places my thoughts are going.

I'm angry.

I'm tired.

I'm confused.

I'm working to rest in peace.

To draw on the strength of Jesus.

To quiet my thoughts.

To pray.

I'm very, very, very, glad that it is Friday.

wine is about the shalom of God

I was listening to part of a sermon Rob Bell gave months ago on my way home from work today, only paying half-attention...

and all of a sudden he says, "Wine is about the shalom of God - the wholeness of God."

It's a long story why that is so very significant today, but it's really, really important to me today.

That will seem funny to those of you who know that I don't drink alcohol ever, that I don't like wine. That the only time I've had more than a tiny sip of wine was at a recent gathering where we were sharing communion together, and it would have ruined the moment to mention that I don't drink because of family issues... so I had the three sips in the tiny goblet that was handed to me...

Wine is about the shalom of God - the wholeness of God.

So good.

Just to balance out the spiders

So, just to balance out the spiders three nights in a row earlier this week, I had a beautiful dream last night. The details are not all for here - ask me in person sometime, and I'll probably share, but suffice to say that I saw Jesus, and it was beautiful. Precious, valued.

And, I was so tired last night that I gave up on the things I really "needed" to accomplish, and headed for bed. My lights were out by 10:30. I can't remember the last time that happened. AND, not only did I get to bed early, but I actually slept for most of the 8 hours between lights out and my alarm ringing this morning. That, like the dream, was a much needed gift in the midst of a crazy busy week.