Signs of Sabbath

There are signs all around us. Along sidewalks and corners are signs that let us know a political election is just around the corner. Standing above those signs are signs the seasons are changing. Maples and oaks in their splendor are signs that shorter, cooler days are on the way. Just about three weeks ago, I took Eva with me to Shelby on a Saturday morning. We had a couple of stops to make, one of which was Lowe’s. There were just a couple of items on our shopping list but, when we walked in the door, we were greeted with more signs. There were signs directing us to hardware, lumber, electrical products, kitchen & bath, and lawn & garden. There are signs everywhere.

That Saturday in Lowes, however, I noticed a big sign that was missing. You see, like many major retailers, the Christmas decorations had been on display for nearly two weeks by that point. There were beautiful artificial Christmas trees – pre-lit, of course – on display. There were wreaths, strings of lights, and boxes of ornaments. There were also large inflatable Santa Claus’s and snowmen. Alongside the Christmas decorations were Halloween decorations. There were jack-o-lanterns, a Minion holding a jack-o-lantern, and a large Darth Vader all to go in one’s front yard.

I stopped in the aisle, looked up to see the contrast from Halloween to Christmas and thought about what kind of sings they were. They were signs to customers, encouraging them to purchase these items. Almost as if to say, “Your season will not be complete without this stuff.” Together, they were signs that the holiday season is quickly approaching. The contrast caught my attention, but what has since been gnawing at me is the sign that was missing.

Amidst the clutter of commodity and the promotion of purchases was one sign that was sadly absent. There was nothing about Thanksgiving. There was not even an inflatable turkey or pilgrim hat on display. Nothing. Simply nothing about Thanksgiving. This was the strongest and clearest sign of all. The fact there was nothing about Thanksgiving suggested – to me, anyway – that Thanksgiving, and the actual practice of giving thanks, is not something that is treasured by our culture and society. It is almost as if we cannot stop long enough to give thanks for what we have because we are too busy looking for the next thing we want, need, or desire, when the truth is most of us have more than we want, need, or desire.

Since September we have placed our focus as a congregation on Sabbath. During Sunday morning worship, we have explored the meaning of Sabbath, Sabbath-keeping, and what it means to incorporate Sabbath into our daily living. You work six days and stop one. You are constantly on the move six days and stop one. Rest and satisfaction are at the core of the Sabbath.

One of the things we have learned together is that Sabbath is so much more than a religious command or a set of “blue laws.” Sabbath is a condition of the heart; a structure of character. Sabbath is itself a sign that something deeper is happening in the human soul. Sabbath is a sign that there is a change, a transformation at work. There is a shift in momentum on the Sabbath that causes us to pay attention more closely to what is around us.

Sabbath-keeping is a means of giving thanks. It is an intentional stoppage of life and work that allows time, room, space, and effort to be given to noticing all that is around us for which we are truly thankful. The trouble is our culture does not like to stop. We live in a 24/7 world where the news, the entertainment, the purchasing, and the drive for more is never-ending. It is almost as if we are so concerned with what we need next that we cannot take time to give thanks for what is already here.

In a world where it seems we do not have time to stop, the Sabbath reminds us we do not have time not to stop. The psalmist writes:

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.”

–Psalm 95:1-2

The invitation issued by the palmist is full of signs. The fact that the invitation is issued to “us” suggests that this is something we do together. We share in giving thanks as a community. Thanksgiving requires stoppage. It is a call to cease the grasping for more and to be satisfied in what is here. According to the psalmist, what is “here” is so much more than one could ever buy, earn, or work for. God is the Rock of our salvation. A sign that God is at work in life.

I believe that one of the greatest signs of our lives is the sign of thanksgiving. It is a sign that we are satisfied. A sign that we are content. A sign that we know where the blessings have come from. A sign that we can rest assured knowing God is the Rock of our salvation, the firm foundation of our living.

I think sometimes we don’t stop because we are afraid that if we stop we will not get started again. As if somehow stopping to give thanks will keep us from getting more; we will wish we had just kept going. Someone else will get the promotion. Someone else will snatch the product. Someone else will….

The truth of the matter is stopping to give thanks is an act of satisfied faith. We know all the things for which we give thanks come from God in the first place, so why be worried about getting more? I don’t know about you, but the sign of a thankful heart is one that I wish to keep growing in to.

Thanksgiving is a sign that God’s satisfied and holy presence is at work in the life of a believer. Let’s all stop, give thanks, and give our culture a new sign.

Thankful...

-ASR