A Year of Sabbaths (Week 42): Couch Potato

(Photos from FreeImages.com. Couch #601228. Potato #827001)

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. (1 Kings 19:3-6)

It was Saturday...

Jennifer was recovering from three nights of cough-interrupted sleep.

Sam was recovering from a sleep-over where nobody slept.

Will was recovering from a stomach bug.

Isaac was happy, but missing his brothers who were in no mood to play.

I was exhausted. (See "Jennifer" and "Will" above.)

Over the last few weeks, I have been talking about the blessings of Sabbath-keeping for deepening family relationships, quickening our faith, restoring our dreams, and re-energizing our churches.  I have said that, "Stopping is just the start." But sometimes, stopping is precisely the point.

Sometimes, you have just "had enough" and what is needed most is an afternoon nap just veggin' out in front of the  TV.  No kayaking the category three run downtown. No ten-mile bike ride or even reading a good book.  No. Sometimes we feel a bit like Elijah, fleeing from Jezebel and now sitting under a broom brush, tired and hungry. It is hard to function at all. We need to be fed by an angel of the Lord, and then "lay down again."

Because sometimes life catches up with us. Sometimes life passes us by.  There is just no strength left. There's no gas in the tank.  We can't go any further.  We just need to stop and that is the point. Sometimes are highest calling is that of a reposing tuber.

I know that it sounds a bit self-serving.  However, we are no good to serve the ones that Jesus has called us to love if we are empty to start with.  After all, Jesus has asked us to die to ourselves, not kill ourselves.

So, beginning at 10:00 am Saturday morning and going to 10:00 AM to Sunday morning, nothing productive was done. Indeed, nothing much was done at all. We rested and were filled up.  It was so good.  It was just what we needed. Soon, Isaac had his brothers back. Jennifer and I felt like we had our breath back.  Sam and I napped. Isaac and Will played in the Lego Lounge. We ate simple meals and watched a movie together as a family.  I think everyone went to bed early.

God took care of us just as God took care of Elijah. All we needed to do was stop, eat, and lay down again and we were reminded that God is there, ready to catch us when we fall. Oh! It was glorious.

Church Stopping. Less doing. More being.