In Praise of the Sabbath

Although the display of the Ten Commandments in public remains a bone of contention, most serious Christians and Jews still adhere to the wisdom and guidance they impart … except for that pesky one about remembering the Sabbath, and keeping it holy. The most observant individuals still heed the lure of the mall, the golf course or working that extra shift, using “necessity” as their excuse. But Sabbathing – truly taking the day off, clearing the mind of all worldly cares and resting the body – has physical, psychological and emotional benefits that serve to reenergize, revive and renew. In short, God knew what He was talking about.

Observant Jews consider activities such as driving a car, cooking, and turning on electric appliances work that should be avoided on the Sabbath. They walk to and from synagogue, and either nosh on leftovers or fresh fruit, vegetables and cheeses, or use the technology of the slow-cooker for their Sabbath meals. Instead of watching television, they read, or even more radical, spend time talking with their families and socializing with friends in the neighborhood. One day a week, they do what physicians and Dr. Phil advise patients and television viewers to do regularly.

For those still unconvinced that Sabbathing has its place in modern life, take a hint from nature. Every plant has a dormant period, during which it stops producing flowers or fruit, reduces its consumption of food and water, and doesn’t grow. This period is necessary for the plant; trees that are denied their dormant period tend to grow spindly and are more prone to insect damage and disease when exposed to the stresses of the growing season. They bear little to no fruit. Their resources are taxed, and they literally can’t cope. Like trees, humans need to Sabbath for essentially the same reasons. Working seven days a week, feeling stressed out, burned out and altogether overwhelmed has been traced to increased risks for cancer and heart disease. It leads to psychological challenges such as depression, hostility and other relationship-killing emotions.

From an employment perspective, an individual’s productivity decreases, which creates more stress for that person as their prospects for promotion or pay raises also decrease. Rather than being an anachronism of a bygone era, investing twenty-four hours a week to observe the Sabbath seems to be more necessary today than it was in previous eras. How we choose to celebrate this time will define whether or not the day is holy; that we choose to celebrate is God’s way to keep us whole.