Friday morning began with my pondering "Off-Road Disciplines" while...on road. This day's 60-mile bike ride took me inland over some routes that I had only previously explored by computer. Although I started early, barely after the sun showed itself, my loop into Loris, SC and back quickly turned the sort of "hot and humid" that set Kansans (and this Southerner) to complaining and brow-wiping.
I had forgotten how flat it is here! Again, climbing over the inter coastal waterway bridge is the only time I was out of the saddle all morning. One might think that flat land is easily traversed land. Not always so. When one cycles over undulating terrain then the legs have time to rest, to climb and then descend. On this terrain one cycles constantly or one stops! This sort of cycling is deceptively tiring.
So it was about mile 45 yesterday morning that I began to ponder "sabbath." It occurred to me that my schedule and ministry have become too "flat," always pedaling, praying, serving. Times of descent or rest are too few and far between. There is a reason that God commanded rest. At mile 45 the wisdom of obedience to such commands gains a certain clarity that tends to escape my daily routines.
_________
I have sought to capture pictures of the sunset here, but for the past two evenings it has been obscured by the untimely appearance of the clouds. I will venture out again tomorrow in hopes of finding something to share with you.
I have finished "Off-Road Disciplines" and can commend it heartily. A good read. I am 100 pages into "The Jesus Creed" today and am somewhat less excited about this work. Bit it is 'required reading,' so...I shall read on.
I find myself faced with a rare decision this night. "How and where shall I worship tomorrow?" There is a service held each week on the beach here. Perhaps I shall explore this. Each week in the chapel at Atonement we pray for those persons who are at that point rising from slumber and deciding whether they will come to God's house or not. I am not often faced with such discretion. I have a new appreciation for those who are and who elect to bring themselves to holy ground for prayer and praise.
My thoughts will be of you tomorrow morning and Bishop Mansholt who shall bring the Word. In fact, the Saturday worship service is now complete and it crosses my mind for the first time. Perhaps this sabbatical deal is working. "Houston, we have decompression."
I had forgotten how flat it is here! Again, climbing over the inter coastal waterway bridge is the only time I was out of the saddle all morning. One might think that flat land is easily traversed land. Not always so. When one cycles over undulating terrain then the legs have time to rest, to climb and then descend. On this terrain one cycles constantly or one stops! This sort of cycling is deceptively tiring.
So it was about mile 45 yesterday morning that I began to ponder "sabbath." It occurred to me that my schedule and ministry have become too "flat," always pedaling, praying, serving. Times of descent or rest are too few and far between. There is a reason that God commanded rest. At mile 45 the wisdom of obedience to such commands gains a certain clarity that tends to escape my daily routines.
_________
I have sought to capture pictures of the sunset here, but for the past two evenings it has been obscured by the untimely appearance of the clouds. I will venture out again tomorrow in hopes of finding something to share with you.
I have finished "Off-Road Disciplines" and can commend it heartily. A good read. I am 100 pages into "The Jesus Creed" today and am somewhat less excited about this work. Bit it is 'required reading,' so...I shall read on.
I find myself faced with a rare decision this night. "How and where shall I worship tomorrow?" There is a service held each week on the beach here. Perhaps I shall explore this. Each week in the chapel at Atonement we pray for those persons who are at that point rising from slumber and deciding whether they will come to God's house or not. I am not often faced with such discretion. I have a new appreciation for those who are and who elect to bring themselves to holy ground for prayer and praise.
My thoughts will be of you tomorrow morning and Bishop Mansholt who shall bring the Word. In fact, the Saturday worship service is now complete and it crosses my mind for the first time. Perhaps this sabbatical deal is working. "Houston, we have decompression."
2 comments:
Dear Brother we missed you. Just wanted to let you know it was a bit odd this morning without you there. I am, however, greatful you are able to spend this time away, in education, relaxation, and renewal. It was you who pushed me over the edge so I now gladly, "Let go, and Let God." I know that His plans for you and Atonement are well thought out, and will bless not only you but all of us at Atonement. Take all the time you need, and come back refreshed.
Tim, Caroline, and Christian
PS. I am glad to see the camera went with you. I look forward to seeing more shots from your rides, and the sunsets from the beach.
Thank you for your blogs. You are greatly missed, but I totally get the renewal thing. My grandparents who are my champions and mentors how to have a "real relationship" with God always (and I mean always) followed the Sabbath. We never did anything on Sundays except worship and spend time together as a family. I used to real tire of this - wanting to spend time with friends and going to the movies and so forth. But now being a mom and needing rest and really needing an intimate relationship with God I GET THE WHOLE Sabbath thing now. Todd and I now do this with our family. It is amazing how if you treat the Sabbath in the way it was intended it really deepens ones relationship with God. And it renews one for the week ahead. Instead of dreading boring Sundays at church and with family (like I did as a youth and not too long along) I now LIVE for Sundays!
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