Today’s author is Pastor Walter Still, Interim Pastor at Prince of Peace.
One of my favorite books Elizabeth and I recall from raising our two children is Five Minutes’ Peace by Jill Murphy. The book features creative drawings with the storyline of a Mom Elephant, relaxing in a hot bathtub of water hoping to enjoy five minutes of solace from the noisy family outside the door. We laughed when our daughter told us that it has become her favorite book as her children grow. The book captures the dream of every hectic parent or guardian at some point. I think Five Minutes’ Peace can be thought of as a book about sabbaticals—a holy time for recollection and recreation in celebration for the gift of life and the world.
While Pr Peter is on his “Twelve Weeks of Sabbatical,” we pray for his holy time to pray, read, surrender, exercise, and dream. “Bless you Pr Peter on your sabbatical . . .”
I hope that you have found a way (perhaps a tiny one like the kid’s story) for your sabbath. Please give yourself permission to find time to relax—it is such a gift as it happens.
One of the benefits of sabbath time is the gift of rejoicing. I love this passage from Philippians 4:4-7:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
May sabbath time bless you!
Pr Walter
he/him/his