Day 8

My parents were strict observers of the Sabbath.  At the time, I would have called them ‘rigid’, ‘legalistic’, or ‘fanatical.’  We understood very clearly what we could not do on Sunday.  Shopping was definitely out.  So was eating in restaurants.  Work?  Even mowing the lawn was forbidden!  And do not even think about entertainment–even something as innocent as miniature golf was anathama.  At the time, I didn’t understand it much less appreciate it.  And I certainly didn’t raise my kids with the same set of rules.  However, reading the 10 Commandments again today (Deuteronomy 6), I found myself wondering if my parents weren’t on to something.

Though they would not have put it in these terms, my parents were acting in a subversive way in response to the systems of economic greed that forces people to work, work, work.  Though unions (God bless ’em) have negotiated a 40 hour work week, more and more people are working longer and longer hours without increased pay (thanks to ‘salaries’), and are expected to always be plugged in to their work through cell phones, email access, web connection, the ‘Cloud’,  being ‘on call’, etc.  Home is not a place for rest, it is now an extension of the office.  Vacations are not relaxing if we are expected to check our email on a daily basis.  Sabbath rest?  What is that in our culture?  Rest is for the lazy!

Pharaoh’s forced labor was oppressive and violent to the well-being of the Hebrews.  Released from the oppression, God establishes a rhythm of work and rest for everyone–even the animals.  I need Sabbath rest and I also need to ensure that others get it too.  Maybe a return to Blue Laws is unnecessary, but in our culture where the economy of greed is King, maybe it’s time to unplug myself from the system and remember who is really King.  That makes not shopping on Sunday sound pretty subversive.