Remember the Sabbath

 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.-Genesis 2:3

The Sabbath.  A time to rest.  How applicable to my vacation.  It's hard to get a good, restful beach vacation with my hubby.  He thinks we need to go here, explore there, visit yonder, maybe shop and have a daily walk as far down the beach as physically possible.  My version of a beach vacation is a beach chair, a towel and a book.  Through the years we have mostly learned to meet somewhere in the middle.  But I have to have my chair and book time.  The sound of the ocean soothes my soul and I could sit there and listen forever, occasionally getting up to wade in the shallow surf and look for interesting sea shells.  There is even scientific evidence showing how beneficial time on the beach is for our emotional well-being.

The science goes further to say that time away in nature - period - is of great benefit.  I can attest to that from my hiking by myself days. The peace.  The fresh air. The sense of God's presence.  Who can't use more of that?

I think we don't give nearly enough effort to obeying the commandment to honor the Sabbath Day.  We fudge through it.  Maybe some of us don't mow the lawn on Sunday (or our chosen day of rest), but we don't really get away from the rhythm of weekday life.  And that is what we need.  We need to find some nature.  Weekly is ideal, but we should aim for as often as possible to get away from everything that consumes us in our lives so that we can reconnect with our real selves and with our Creator.

Renewing God,

Help us to remember to take time for renewal and refreshment and re-connection.  It's more important that we often realize.  Amen.