. . . we interrupt this program . . .

This morning before the sun even touched the eastern horizon I stopped by the church on my way to the airport. I had forgotten my kindle and I look forward to reading all the books I've wanted to read over the past year on the plane! Haha, okay - I can't get them all done, but I do some catching up.

This past week in church I confessed one of my sins. (I've been in a confessional mood lately, I guess). I do not keep my Sabbath regularly. I probably take a full Sabbath once a month and I notice the effects, especially when I have worked multiple days in a row. So yes, I called Jesus Travis this week in my sermon. And I read most of my sermon. I typically don't need to do this. I always write out a sermon to help me stay on track, but by Sunday morning I only have the FULL theological insights written out so I don't get them wrong.

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Some of the lights in the sanctuary had been left on and as I walked in, I noticed it was the lights above the cross. I was reminded in that moment, that I don't have to do it all. Like most Americans I am driven by success, but in that moment of silence before the cross, I was reminded by that still small voice - God is already working miracles. God is already redeeming the world through Jesus Christ. All I need to do is follow - and part of that is remembering that even when I think I am needed, that the world will keep on spinning and the things that don't get done - they don't get done.

That's tough to accept when you want nothing more than for everything to be done perfectly, or you want results right away.  The problem is that it's not faithful to how God calls each and every one of us regardless of how we carry out that call. God rested, we need to rest. God commands us to keep the Sabbath Holy - we are not just producers, we are creative beings, made in God's image. Even the master Creator rested.

So, I'm on my way to Nashville for a time of learning, worshipping and resting. Learning is one of the things that brings me great joy, so this really is a Sabbath for me.