I am a Sabbath breaker. I was even in a Bible study that spent weeks studying about the Sabbath, ways to Sabbath, the whys of the Sabbath. Yet, it didn't sink in. This past Sunday I took my first real Sabbath - it was great. We had a fellowship at church and I stayed late and wasn't worried about not getting stuff done. I spent time with my son and husband without thinking about what comes next. It was freeing.
Our culture used to observe the Sabbath with blue laws. Well that's gone out the window! You can get anything you want at any time you want. However, I think that there is wisdom in stopping, connecting, resting and just being for a little while. Recently I was reading about a community where Sabbath has really impacted the community - here is a snippet:
Not that everyone who lives in Toco Hills is Jewish, of course. Not even a majority. Actually only 20% or so of community residents attend the synagogue. But this orthodox congregation embraces a theology that has powerfully influenced the stability of the neighborhood. An observance that derives from the Torah's Sabbath day teaching encourages the devout to refrain from driving their automobiles on the Sabbath. Living in proximity to the synagogue allows the faithful to walk rather than drive to services. Consequently, the desirability of having a home close to the synagogue has caused turnover to be low and the entire residential area to remain largely immune to commercial incursion. Whether intentional or not, this obscure theological teaching is responsible for unparalleled community stability for many decades.
So there you have it - observing God's laws - even the obscure ones - can change your community. Are you taking a Sabbath!
