Today is my Sabbath, but Friday evening I went to Synagogue with my friend Michelle, to honor hers. We sat together in the ornate, small space and allowed our work-weary bodies to be cupped by the canter’s singing. The Hebrew words, ancient and worn, transported me to a place both known and unknown to me, but a place filled with comfort large enough to hold two faiths in love.
As the prayers poured out, as the chanting and ceremony around the beloved Torah took place, all I could feel was gratitude. I could not always find the English translations in the book in front of me, but time and again I was filled with wonder and emotion as my friend and I were reminded that God is God and love is love. I know Jesus wasn’t in her frame of reference, but she knew He was in mine. Isn’t that beautiful? Doesn’t that just define… you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and your neighbor as yourself? Thank you, Michelle, for entrusting me with something so precious to you. You are precious to me.
And today, how did I honor my own Sabbath? I had breakfast with my daughter and listened to her share about her faith journey. I loved looking at her brown eyes and her long, wavy hair and remembering times we lit candles together and sang our bedtime prayers. I am thankful she still seeks and that she ventures out of her own comfort zones to find what is true to her soul.
And after we hugged, I went to my place of worship as she drove to hers. She tells me that hers is similar to a rock concert… a large arena, upbeat music, and a really good preacher who says things that mean something to her. Mine is now the Quaker Meeting where we sit in silence until Spirit moves in the heart and someone rises to speak. When people do speak, I hear God in their words and in their expressions. And when people do not speak, I hear God the clearest. This is what I love about this experience in my faith journey now. Silence is a profound teacher, and it is always new, always fresh… like breath, like heartbeats. And there is great release in the belief that God speaks through all of us… not just in a chosen few. When you trust that you bump into God all over the place.
And when words were spoken in Meeting today, they were words that said, “Be you. What’s past is past. Keep what is worthy. Keep what sets you free. But let go of what is no longer your truth.” It made me feel happy to tears. God makes me feel happy to tears.
And I’ve listened to the rain. I’ve lit candles here at home and used my hands to create beautiful things with colorful fibers and threads. I’ve worked on my Infant Massage exam and loved writing about the power and grace that comes through presence and touch. I’ve worn my favorite socks, and I’ve watched day turn to night… just like that… without asking permission or filling out any forms or worrying what anyone will think about doing what comes so naturally. Sabbath shows up to remind us to live like that. Let’s keep leaning in to that teaching, that worship, that calling to wholeness.
Shabbat Shalom. Peaceful Sabbath.
As the prayers poured out, as the chanting and ceremony around the beloved Torah took place, all I could feel was gratitude. I could not always find the English translations in the book in front of me, but time and again I was filled with wonder and emotion as my friend and I were reminded that God is God and love is love. I know Jesus wasn’t in her frame of reference, but she knew He was in mine. Isn’t that beautiful? Doesn’t that just define… you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and your neighbor as yourself? Thank you, Michelle, for entrusting me with something so precious to you. You are precious to me.
And today, how did I honor my own Sabbath? I had breakfast with my daughter and listened to her share about her faith journey. I loved looking at her brown eyes and her long, wavy hair and remembering times we lit candles together and sang our bedtime prayers. I am thankful she still seeks and that she ventures out of her own comfort zones to find what is true to her soul.
And after we hugged, I went to my place of worship as she drove to hers. She tells me that hers is similar to a rock concert… a large arena, upbeat music, and a really good preacher who says things that mean something to her. Mine is now the Quaker Meeting where we sit in silence until Spirit moves in the heart and someone rises to speak. When people do speak, I hear God in their words and in their expressions. And when people do not speak, I hear God the clearest. This is what I love about this experience in my faith journey now. Silence is a profound teacher, and it is always new, always fresh… like breath, like heartbeats. And there is great release in the belief that God speaks through all of us… not just in a chosen few. When you trust that you bump into God all over the place.
And when words were spoken in Meeting today, they were words that said, “Be you. What’s past is past. Keep what is worthy. Keep what sets you free. But let go of what is no longer your truth.” It made me feel happy to tears. God makes me feel happy to tears.
And I’ve listened to the rain. I’ve lit candles here at home and used my hands to create beautiful things with colorful fibers and threads. I’ve worked on my Infant Massage exam and loved writing about the power and grace that comes through presence and touch. I’ve worn my favorite socks, and I’ve watched day turn to night… just like that… without asking permission or filling out any forms or worrying what anyone will think about doing what comes so naturally. Sabbath shows up to remind us to live like that. Let’s keep leaning in to that teaching, that worship, that calling to wholeness.
Shabbat Shalom. Peaceful Sabbath.
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