Word and Deed: Thoughts on Faith-Based Leadership

Five Factors for Finding Sabbath Time

In keeping with the theme of CHHSM's 2007 Annual Meeting "The Rhythm of Rest and Work: Leading with Soul," this month's column highlights more wise and caring thoughts from keynote speaker, Wayne Muller, author of Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives. For more reflections from Muller, see the September 2005 and June 2006 columns, titled Sabbath's Sacred Six and Sabbath's Sacred Reminders.

For a topic that would normally conjure up thoughts of peace and relaxation, Muller's message has a sense of urgency that is provocative and inspirational as he reinforces the sacredness of Sabbath and the need for an adequate balance in life. Many of us are shielded from the effects of violence in its most obvious forms; war, criminal acts of theft, murder, and abuse of any kind, and have never been subjected personally. However, there are other not-so-obvious forms of violence that are brought to our awareness in Sabbath that may be more harmful in that we inflict it upon ourselves.

Muller suggests that we are at war on many levels--not just in the Middle East and crime-ridden neighborhoods and through acts of domestic violence and other horrific activities--but we are also at war with ourselves. He says, "A successful life has become a violent enterprise" and names the ravages of the war that is being fueled by our resistance to rest and relaxation: "To be unavailable to our friends and family, to be unable to find time for the sunset (or even to know that the sun has set at all), to whiz through our obligations without time for a single, mindful breath, this has become the model of a successful life."

WE MAKE WAR...

• On our bodies, by pushing them beyond their limits.
• On our children, because we cannot find enough time to be with them when they are hurt and afraid, and need our company.
• On our spirit, because we are too preoccupied to listen to the quiet voices that seek to nourish and refresh us.
• On our communities, because we are fearfully protecting what we have, and do not feel safe enough to be kind and generous.
• On our earth, because we cannot take the time to place our feet on the ground and allow it to feed us, to taste its blessing and give thanks.

Shirley Nelson

Earlier Columns

• The Sacred Seven, July 2005
• The Faithful Five, August 2005
• Sabbath's Sacred Six, September 2005
• The Edifying Eight, October 2005
• Nine Divine Spiritual Reminders to Stay in the Present Moment, November 2005
• Ten Soulful Nuggets, December 2005
• Ten Provocative Perspectives for Vocational Guidance, January 2006
• Five Fruitful Attributes for Servant Leaders, February 2006
• A Banquet of Sacraments, March 2006
• May 2006
• Sabbath's Sacred Reminders, June 2006
• Bridging Troubled Waters, August 2006