Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 125; Leviticus 25:1-17; Matthew 7:13-21; Galatians 1:18-24; Psalm 9
I remember twenty years ago hearing how the dawn of technology was going to make our lives so much easier in the 21st Century. “We may have to work 40 hours a week now,” some folks said in the 1980’s, “but once computers arrive they’ll do all of the work for us!” Some went so far as to predict that the 40-hour work week would disappear all together only to be replaced by a 20-hour work week. That sure sounded good to me back then. Fast forward to the year 2008. So what happened? Have our lives been made easier by technology? Are 40-hour work weeks a thing of the past? I suppose the answer to those questions is “yes” and “yes”. Computers have undeniably made pieces of our lives much easier. And yes, 40-hour work weeks are a thing of the past. The only problem is that the 40-hour work weeks have not been replaced by 20-hour work weeks. Sadly, the 40-hour work weeks have been replaced by 60 and 80-hour work weeks. So much for life getting easier. Reading today’s passage from Leviticus made me wish that we modern folks had a better sense of the rhythm of life. The notion of working the land for 6 years and then letting the land and its laborers have a year of Sabbath in the seventh year makes sense. So too does the observance of a year of Jubilee every 50 years. While we may not have the cultural practice of such Sabbaths built into our routines these days, it’s increasingly important for us to find regular intervals of time for rest and renewal ourselves. Have you created such a rhythm in your life? If not, I would encourage you to spend time considering how you might pick up on the wisdom of our spiritual ancestors and find regular Sabbath time of your own. Til next time…
I remember twenty years ago hearing how the dawn of technology was going to make our lives so much easier in the 21st Century. “We may have to work 40 hours a week now,” some folks said in the 1980’s, “but once computers arrive they’ll do all of the work for us!” Some went so far as to predict that the 40-hour work week would disappear all together only to be replaced by a 20-hour work week. That sure sounded good to me back then. Fast forward to the year 2008. So what happened? Have our lives been made easier by technology? Are 40-hour work weeks a thing of the past? I suppose the answer to those questions is “yes” and “yes”. Computers have undeniably made pieces of our lives much easier. And yes, 40-hour work weeks are a thing of the past. The only problem is that the 40-hour work weeks have not been replaced by 20-hour work weeks. Sadly, the 40-hour work weeks have been replaced by 60 and 80-hour work weeks. So much for life getting easier. Reading today’s passage from Leviticus made me wish that we modern folks had a better sense of the rhythm of life. The notion of working the land for 6 years and then letting the land and its laborers have a year of Sabbath in the seventh year makes sense. So too does the observance of a year of Jubilee every 50 years. While we may not have the cultural practice of such Sabbaths built into our routines these days, it’s increasingly important for us to find regular intervals of time for rest and renewal ourselves. Have you created such a rhythm in your life? If not, I would encourage you to spend time considering how you might pick up on the wisdom of our spiritual ancestors and find regular Sabbath time of your own. Til next time…
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