Last night we spent the night is Pamplona. A wonderful city of 200K people, and quite quaint during the day, during siesta, and during the dinner hour as well. But buddy let me tell you what! When 8pm hits, the stores close, and everyone turns out to party! I mean of the 200K people in Pamplona, at 100K were on our street until 2:30am - drinking, talking, singing, arguing, fighting, yelling at some dog (who barked for at least 6 straight hours - didn't hear him anymore after the parties died out.). I believe Pamplona is a wonderful place to visit, but not a place to spend the night…press on to the next town for the night, well, if you want to sleep that is!
Speaking of sleeping. I’m not, well, not too well. Part of this sabbatical experience was to embrace with understanding the Sabbath. And I am beginning to learn something here. We began our Camino and it was a complete shock to the physical body - from little exercise (yes I did walk 3-5 miles a day to prepare) to outrageous exercise (climbing up a silly mountain with backpack for 17 miles, followed by 12 miles, followed today by 15 miles). So at the end of the day, my body is zonked…but my mind is another story. My mind has not engaged in 27 emails about personal and professional work at the St Anne’s. My mind is not absorbed in sermon prep. My mind is not solving counseling issues, budget issues, leaks, or running toilet issues. So here’s the thing…all my mind has to do during the day is to watch the path in front of me and not trip or slip, watch for yellow arrows marking the way, and look at all the beauty of God’s creation. So at night, when I lay myself down to sleep, I turn on CS Lewis’ Mere Christianity (as I do nearly every night because CS Lewis has been able to put me to sleep at the drop of a hat ever since seminary days) and instead of falling straight to sleep my mind jumps to work - I mean for hours and hours on end! Finally, it seems to say, something to grapple with - and so it does. I find myself wrestling with CS Lewis when I should be sleeping. Now I don't blame CS Lewis, and if this is going to happen I’m glad I don't have Garth Brooks playing, but I find this remarkable! I don't know how to take a sabbath! I don't know how to let my mind slow down, to stop trying to engage, solve, or create.
Our devotion today came from Mudhouse Sabbath. And it spoke to us about creation…that in the Jewish sabbath many things are not allowed on the sabbath such as cooking or carrying certain items, and at first glance we would consider it totally legalistic…but consider this. God instituted the sabbath and God rested on the sabbath. God created everything we will ever discover in this universe or beyond in those first 6 days and then rested on the 7th. You see, creation is the work of God, and our ability to make things is a participation in the creation of God..and God says rest! And so, my friends, I must learn how to rest my mind, and embrace sabbath. What about you?
Ultreya!