A Glorious Sabbath Rest Day

Ah, yesterday was lovely. A sabbath to the nth degree. It had felt like a month between Sabbaths, rather than just a week. End-of-term will do that to a person. Each moment felt like a treasure.

To start off with, the singing at church was wonderful. One of the Service Adventure volunteers at our church plays the cello, and that added a rich dimension to the singing. We also had a group from the congregation singing music from the Sacred Harp tradition - shape note singing. FUN!

We had a good conversation in Sunday School about financial stewardship and Christian living - generosity and miserliness, retirement savings, the Depression area generation, issues pertaining to wealth. I know, I know, it doesn't sound all that exciting perhaps. But there was such an open tone to the conversation, a willingness to be honest and raise real questions. People shared their own stories and their steps forward.

We don't talk often enough about money - not in the church, and not in the world at large. Not this way - not about when to save and when to give - and how to determine how much is 'enough'.

I am convinced that generosity is not spurred on by guilt and duty. That produces giving without joy. Generosity is a joy-filled act that spills out from a deep sense of trust that we have enough, and that we are cared for. Generosity is a joy-filled action that spills out from a rich connection between ourselves and others. Generosity cannot be forced.

When we got home from church, Kendall had an opportunity to play some ULTIMATE FRISBEE (the last game of 2006) for over an hour; and I spent that hour talking with my friend Sharon.

We went back to church in the afternoon for a choral concert of Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart by the Vesper Chorale... hearing various settings of the Magnificat. We went out for dinner (Italian - Papa Vino's - num!). We've been eating VERY simply at home lately, a lot of soup and bread. We're a bit tired of soup. This dinner was a feast for the senses.

Back at campus, it was 'Games Night' and a group of 8 people were gathered (including us) to play. We learned how to play an old game - new to us - called Acquire. Such a capitalist venture - buying and merging hotel chains, and acquiring stock. For those who love the feeling of power that comes with acquisition. Ah, a group of simplicity-loving Mennonites out to take over the corporate world. It was a very fun game.

All in all, a Sabbath non-pareil. (without parallel)