I don’t remember who asked the question. It was so long about, maybe 10 years ago?
I don’t remember who asked
the question. It was so long about, maybe 10 years ago? I do remember the
question.
I do remember that it was a
golden day in early autumn. The leaves
were shimmering and shaking and the sun softly warmed our backs as we sat on
the rocks overlooking Boulder.
Some congregants and I are
were on a Shabbat Hike, as is the minhag in our adventurous congregation. My
sermon that day was about Shabbat. I’ll admit, my sermons are often about
Shabbat, the concept of a day off, which I believe to be among the greatest
gifts the Jews gave the world.
I tend to go on and on about
“creating palaces in time” and taking time to be with family, community and
friends and so on. Honestly, I love
Shabbat and think everyone else will too if they just make time to try it.
So there we were on the
rocks, under the sun, listening to the leaves. As I said, I don’t remember who
asked the question although I do remember the question.
“I like my work. Really,
there is little I would rather do. My work is my favorite thing to do. So, why shouldn’t I work on Shabbat?”
I don’t remembered what I
answered. I probably said something
about the importance of creating havdil,
separation, something about making one day different than they rest. Or maybe I
went with, “We all need down time to re-inspire and re-invigorate ourselves.”
I don’t know what I said but
I do know that none of my answers satisfied me. They probably didn’t satisfy
the asker either. I’ve been thinking
about her question for years.
Last Shabbat, when I felt
exhausted by being a mom and a rabbi and a wife and a friend and an author, and
all the other things I am, I escaped into my office to do some work on my
computer. FYI, I don’t work on Shabbat.
I don’t use my computer or phone. But I was so worn out at that moment that
being on my computer seemed relaxing, like just the Shabbat escape I
needed. I felt at that moment like the
asker, ““I like my work. Really, there
is little I would rather do. My work is my favorite thing to do. So, why shouldn’t I work on Shabbat?”
Right before I turned on my
computer, I remembered that question, from years ago and I think I finally
understand the answer.
Here is the thing. Shabbat
is a day designed to remind us of what is important in our lives. The idea of
Shabbat is not just to check in with ourselves and make sure our life is
properly expressing our priorities but to make sure we have the correct
priorities!
If work is the most
important thing in my life, then I am missing out on some other amazing parts
of life. If work is what I love more
than anything else, I am missing out on the opportunity of experiencing loving
other people, places, animals, etc.
Years ago my friends
Jennifer O’Conner told me that life is like a bicycle. “Draw a two-wheeled
bicycle,” She said. “The front is your work, the back is your personal life. Both
tires have to be blown up all the way for the bike to cruise.”
I did not turn on my
computer. I walked back into the mayhem of Shabbat in my living room.
Shabbat may not always be
peaceful or pretty, quiet or calm.
Sometimes Shabbat is not even relaxing. But it is a day that reminds us
that to live a full and meaningful
lives, we need to create loves in our lives other than work.
As I turn off my computer
for Shabbat, I wish you a Shabbat Shalom.
posted by Adventure Rabbi Blog at
2:45 PM
2 Comments
