Deep Breathing for the Soul

As we listened to a message on Sabbath keeping a couple of weeks ago, my friend leaned over and whispered in my ear, “do you cook on Sabbath?”

It should be noted that I love to cook, while this friend does not.

So I whispered back, “Sometimes.”

The only thing we outlaw completely in our Sabbath practice is legalism. Often, we eat leftovers, or canned soup and sandwiches. But today, I planted herbs in the garden. and then, unexpectedly, my husband brought home sweet corn on the cob from the grocery store. It’s not corn season locally here in northern Illinois, that corn is likely from Florida or even Mexico. I worried about its quality, which could be compromised by its long journey from field to our table.

But fresh herbs cover a multitude of sins, so I thought my garden herbs might be able to rescue it. since I’d planned grilled chicken, I Googled grilled corn. I made an herb butter from the newly planted basil, my perennial thyme and parsley.

My family loved the simple dinner–grilled chicken, grilled corn with herb butter, rice and green beans. For me, cooking is a love language. when I can serve up something delicious, it is a way of showing love, a way of bringing joy to our table. When the weather turns warm, I seem to warm up to cooking. I stow the crock pot, fire up the grill, visit the garden and feel joy. When my kids say “Great dinner, mom,” I feel God’s’ smile.

Sabbath is a day to put aside the shoulds, the “ought to’s” and obligations. It is a day to connect with your family–in the garden or around the table. So should you cook on Sabbath? If it genuinely brings you joy and draws you closer to the heart of God. If it doesn’t, throw in a frozen pizza or open a box of cereal, and enjoy time with your family. Sabbath is about unhurried community, about joy. it is about refusing to feel guilt. If cooking brings that kind of freedom and joy to your life, then cook on Sabbath. But if cooking stresses you out and feels like drudgery or joyless work, then don’t do it. enjoy your freedom from cooking on this day. I think that’s what Jesus was talking about when he said the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.

Your thoughts?

also, here’s the corn recipe:

Take corn, carefully peel back husks, keeping them attached to the cob. Remove silk. Smooth husks back in place.

soak corn in cold water with a tablespoon or two of sugar for 15 minutes, then drain.

Grill corn in husks about 3 to 5 minutes per side.

Carefully pull back husks, grill corn until slightly charred, 5 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally.

slather with butter mixed with minced herbs and lime juice.

I’m guest blogging about Sabbath and its role in spiritual formation all over the place this week. It’s been fun to connect with other writers and bloggers and create some new content.

If you’re interested in using any of the articles, say in a newsletter or a church website, just leave me a comment or use the contact form to get in touch. I’m happy to grant permission for use as long as you give attribution.

Here are a few sites that are running some articles I’ve written this week:

Spiritual disciplines for writers

What Moms really want for Mother’s Day

Sailing and Sabbath

What Jesus said about Sabbath

10 Steps to Sabbath Rest

Please visit these blogs and leave a comment or question–the bloggers will appreciate it. And stop back here and tell me which article you enjoyed or which blog you want to start reading regularly!

Earth Day seems to have morphed into Earth Month, hasn’t it? Well, as Earth Month draws to a close, I written a new article on how spending time in creation can draw us close to the heart of God, and give us some space to enjoy Sabbath rest. My friend Tracey Bianchi, (author of Green Mama: the Guilt-Free guide to helping you and your kids save the planet) has posted my article on her blog. So click on over and read it, leave a comment and tell a friend!!

I had the opportunity to be interviewed on an Australian radio program this week about my book Rest. It will air in a few weeks, I’ll post the link then.

                One question the interviewer asked me was, “What do you do on Sabbath? Is it a day to do nothing? Or a day of worship?”

                So what do you do on Sabbath—a day dedicated to God, and to rest? I told him it was a day of absolute freedom from “have-to.” The Bible says it is not just a day to chill out and do your own thing, and yet it is a gift from God. But as I went through my Sabbath day yesterday, I tried to notice—what is it that I do, on this day of rest? The phrase that kept coming to me was the ministry of availability. I showed up—at church, at a neighbor’s home, for my kids—and God met me in it. I was not busy going anywhere else, so I could be fully present with the people God put in my path.

So yesterday, I went to church. Later, I brought some of Aaron’s outgrown clothes over to a friend for her nephew, and had time to just sit and chat for a while with her. I stopped by at my neighbors’, Jeff and Lisa, to drop off a book. And to ask how their daughter Katie is doing—she was recently diagnosed with cancer (see previoius post). I had time to visit for a few minutes, to try to listen. There was no place I had to rush off too.

I had lunch with my son at the kitchen table. He went off for a bike ride with his friends, to play basketball with the kids down the street. I puttered in my garden, in a loosely-held solitude, enjoying the sun, the flowers, the feel of the earth in my hands. My neighbor Jeff was mowing his lawn, and he stopped and we chatted for a few minutes. My daughter texted to ask for a ride home from youth group. I was available to pick her and her friends up. I didn’t have anywhere else I needed to be.

I did a little weeding, but set no goals. When my neighbors Colleen and Tony came out on their front porch, the dog and I walked over to sit and chat for a while.

I made dinner—pork tenderloin, peas and risotto. Risotto requires adding broth and stirring, slowly and repeatedly, for about 20 minutes. It’s a very Zen sort of cooking experience. You have to stay present.  Preparing it feels very loving to me–and nearly impossible on weeknights full of carpooling and work. But on Sabbath, such attentiveness is not only possible, but enjoyable. We gathered as a family around a simple meal, and talked about life, about the coming week, about what we’d learned at church.

                After dinner we put a fire in the fireplace, and just hung out together. The kids finished their homework.

                Maybe a day dedicated to God is a day that moves slowly enough that you have time to listen, time to be available.  Maybe connecting with God on this day doesn’t require effort as much as it requires simply showing up, and seeing Him in the faces of the people around you.