As Christians, I think we get the part of keeping the Sabbath that involves offering our prayer and praise in worship, a la Martin Luther’s explanation in the Small Catechism. However, I’m not sure we do the resting and ceasing from labor part so well.

In her book Keeping the Sabbath Wholly (see title link above), theologian Marva Dawn rightly challenges us on this point.

That is why I love snow days. They are a forced Sabbath of rest for many. Can you hear the divine whisper? “Slow down. You don’t need to do it all. Rest. Marvel at the wonder of my creation. Drink in the beauty of what I have done and am doing. Take it all in. Play!”

See you on the sledding hill this afternoon?