Every Seventh Day
Saturday, January 01, 2000
I am not a Jew. But I have come to realise that the idea of the Sabbath Day is brilliant.
The most widespread fault in the lives of people I know (myself included) is the "ratrace" effect - which does in a way reduce us to rats.
If we stop regularly, and drop all business, worries, chores, and schemes, we are able to unwind and take pleasure in the good things we are fortunate enough to have in our lives.
Without this regular break, we lose perspective. Small problems seem big, and big ones small. We make mistakes in important personal decisions - because we aren't centred enough to reflect sanely on our circumstances.
Why do I suggest the word Sabbath with its religious overtones?
I think that's necessary for two reasons. Firstly, one must be "religious" in the observance of the day of rest - or else one will find a thousand reasons to get busy.
Secondly, there are usually things going on in our lives we do not realise or understand. When we do stop, our mind makes all sorts of adjustments - it's mostly unconscious - and we always emerge a little saner and wiser.
Since we do not know WHAT we do not know, we have to leave ourselves open to further enlightenment - and need to allow a time and space for this to occur.
This openness to greater awareness feeds the higher side of our nature - and therefore I think the religious word Sabbath is an ideal term for this practice.
It's a symptom of the rat race that we often say we couldn't possibly afford to have a day of rest - despite our civilisation already having the highest standard of living in history!
I don't see why it matters whether we use a Saturday or a Sunday for the purpose - or another day for those with unusual schedules. The main thing is it needs to be regular - like every 7th day.
It amazes me that such accurate survival information - exactly what the doctor ordered for modern society - was initiated thousands of years ago!
Philip O'Carroll