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Deacon Tom writes
“Time-Out”
Many
motivational speakers direct their marketing efforts so they appeal to our lack
of success, our poor self-image and low self-esteem. They claim to have the
know how to help us be successful in life or how to achieve our highest
aspirations. Some will attribute their success to the lessons they learned from
sacred scripture. It’s not exactly “breaking news” that the bible provides
critical insight into our own human nature, that is, if we take the time to
look. Yes, the bible gives us valuable insight on how all of us can find the
road to success.
Today
Moses reveals God’s instructions for our well-being and happiness, key
ingredients for a successful life. He does this with amazing efficiency,
identifying ten key ingredients on how to treat God and neighbor that if we get
right, we are pretty much guaranteed to be rolling along on the road to success.
There doesn’t seem to be any real big show stoppers here, really…love God and
your parents, don’t sell your soul to any idol, control your language, no
adultery, don’t kill or steal or be desirous of you neighbor or his wife or
their possessions. Oh, and one more little nugget of advice: come, set some quiet time and rest with
me once a week says the Lord.
God’s
tenderness and love for us is revealed in this commandment to keep holy the
Sabbath. God is concerned about our well-being. He rested after six days of
creation and he invites us to do the same, put ourselves in “Time
Out” so to speak. The
Third Commandment is God inviting us into his
Rest, where he speaks to us, comforts us from the worries and
anxieties we have suffered during the week. Resting in God is where our energy
to do anything good or even have the idea to do anything good comes from; it is
where our vision of the good is restored, so we can see God at work in our
world and in our lives, or where he is
absent, and not fall victim to the naysayers or become the voice of
cynicism; it is where we come to know and experience God’s love for us; it is
where we come to know God’s Divine Will for us. Resting in God is what the
Sabbath Day envisioned. If we use this day as God intended, we will embrace the
other commandments as well, each in their own way helping us along the road to success,
which for us is loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves. So, give
yourself a break and take this Sunday off, and Rest in God.
Enjoy
the day!
Deacon
Tom
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