The surprise isn’t so much that Steve Irwin died — jabbed by a stingray — but that he evaded death so many times before. The thrill-seeker seemed to walk as close to the edge as possible: handling poisonous snakes, tackling crocodiles, etc. He was quite an entertainer.
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More from Mark Buchanan’s The Rest of God : Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath
“One of the largest obstacles to true Sabbath-keeping is leisure. It is what cultural historian Witold Rybczynski calls ‘waiting for the weekend,’ where we see work as only an extended interlude between our real lives. Leisure is what Sabbath becomes when we no longer know how to sanctify time. Leisure is Sabbath bereft of the sacred. It is a vacation — literally, a vacating, an evacuation. As Rybczynski sees it, leisure has become despotic in our age, enslaving us and exhausting us, demanding from us more than it gives.
“We all know how unsatisfying mere leisure can be. We’ve all known what it’s like to return to the classroom or the workplace after a time spent in revelry or retreat, in high jinks or hibernation: typically, we go back weary and depressed, like jailbirds caught. The time away from work wasn’t time sanctified so much as time stolen, time when we escaped for a short-lived escapade.”
Isn’t the discovery of true Sabbath — genuine, restorative rest — one of our great challenges? Buchanan is right: everyone can just “live for the weekend.” But what does it mean to sanctify time in a way that brings joy, calmness, and levity?
“Living for the weekend” can only last so long. It is certainly finding calm and peace in each day that can give us the joy we need in a world so desperate for joy-filled people. During this busy time of my life, thanks for these words, Mike.
P.S. I did post this weekend on why I decided to become a vegetarian if you haven’t seen it yet. I hope the good conversation there will continue through today.
Thanks Mike. Peterson has some good Sabbath thoughts as well in Living the Resurrection. Resting after six days of work was exemplified by God in the Creation, and it actually gives us more energy and revitalization to live a resurrected life.
I have learned that as a minister it is easy to work all the time and get no rest. In my first years of ministry I worked 60-80 hrs a week. I got no rest and neglected what was most important, my family. My family suffered. As I failed to rest, I suffered burnout. I believe that is the sad story of most ministers. Over time I learned that I could say: NO. I didn’t have to do everything. I am now taking the time to be with my family and give my self personal renewal that Jesus had with His Father.
Mike thank you for reminding us of the rest that we need that the rest isn’t just on the weekends or Holidays but in a personal relationship with God we find rest everyday.
God bless you Mike.
When we went to hear Rob Bell preach on his “everythingisspiritual” tour he really focused on the rythym of life and how God intended for us to seek him in rest on the sabbath. I think Lauren Winner does a good job of moving us to a good place of understanding on this topic in her book, “Muddhouse Sabbath.”
Mike,
Remember when you were in collage and you’d put like $2 worth of gas in your tank (back when that bought 2 gallons…) and then a few days later you’d be praying deep, strong prayers that your car wouldn’t run out of gas on that date (you know that date where you’d be praying deep, strong prayers that the girl wouldn’t order more than a salad and water at dinner and not ask for popcorn at the movie…)? And then you get older (and make a wee bit more money) and you decide to “Fill Up” when you stop and get gas so you can go further and don’t have to stop as much and so you don’t worry when you’re driving that you are always a few blocks away from having to push your ride into a station.
I’ve learned to take a 24 period to rest. God bless the ones who want to take a little here and a little there and call that Sabbath. I just can’t NOT rest. The law doesn’t bind me - the need does. It is no longer a matter of obligation but of opportunity for me. I missed my Sabbath last week (a couple of suicidal church members can do that to your schedule from time to time) and I really noticed a difference in the way I related to God and others.
Sabbath is to remember God created it all (He’s in control): Exodus 20:11. Sabbath is to celebrate that God delivers us all: (Deuteronomy 5:15). Sabbath is a sign of our relationship with God: Exodus 31:16-17.
What if Christians were known not just for their busyness but for their rest?
Joel–
I like the concept of a 24 hour rest. If you are married with children, how does the 24 hour rest work within the family context?
The question of how and why so many believers are dissatisfied with/stressed about work is long overdue for a closer examination.
Without stretching this comment into a post unto itself, I think that PART of the problem arises out of the development of global, corporate, and governmental bureacuracies that strip work of its creative impulse. Craftsmanship and artistry, appreciated and enjoyed within a local community, have been replaced by employee manuals, tax codes, multiple management tiers, long commutes, and extended business travel to meet with people with whom we have no other meaningful relationship. Teachers answer to bureaucracies that measure success by standardized testing. Lawyers operated under scheduling orders and reporting deadlines. Even doctors are forced to work within their own “standardized” system to satisfy HMO requirements and avoid malpractice allegations. It is a culture that encourages depersonalization of economic relationships, and which - IMHO - stifles spiritual growth in a way that the “old” economy did not.
It sounds like Buchanan has a lot of helpful things to say about this subject in the context of Sabbath, and I hope a lot of us who are struggling within these cultures will take this subject seriously.
Mike, I’m struggling with the Sabbath issue. Praying deeply about it…
The Steve Irwin thing made me think of my relationship with sin. Steve like to dance with danger. He like to get very close to it. He liked to even taunt it. He loved the entertainment value and I think he probably really loved his job. And we all watched. He danced too close for too long.
My Grandmother used to say pearls of wisdom like, “If you swim with the sharks, you will eventually get biten.”
That’s how sin is, you know. Play close to it, taunt it, dance around it and eventually it will be your death. The death of Steve Irwin has oddly made me consider my closeness to sin. If my heart desires to dance with and taunt sin, eventually it will be my demise. And it’s made me consider another thought. How many people do I watch dance this dangerous dance and I never do anything, say anything to them or pray deeply on their behalf?
Snapshot - it’s funny how an event like Steve Irwin’s death can trigger different responses. I thought about how he died being passionate about something he loves & wishing that I could live that same way. Do I passionately live for God? Am I doing what I was “born to do”? Sadly, I feel the answer for me is “no”, but Steve’s death has made me think that I, too, should be out there living a full life (for God) and blessing the world with the gifts that God has given me, instead of sitting here on my rear end, doing nothing.
Some of the work I do is not labor, but rest.
When I’m working hard to finish an accurate passenger car for my model railroad, or to post a back issue of Wineskins to the Web for a new generation, or to shoot hoops with my 13-year-old son without embarrassing my 51-year-old self - I’m actually relaxing.
If I had to spend a whole 24 hours meditating, I’d go a little nutsy. It’s not for me.
I don’t mistake simple quietude for rest or recreation anymore; it’s just part of it.
And I’m always little surprised how often my mind wanders to the spiritual when I’m working out my rest. I find that I’m revelling in the creativity and generosity of God.
I believe rest should be tailored to the needs and lifestyle of the person, the one for whom the Sabbath was made.
Not vice-versa.
For me Sabbath is snatched on the run. That probably sounds odd! For example, grabbing an hour early in the morning in the beauty of nature, or on the bleachers while my daughter is at ball practice. This requires being intentional, like bringing along a journal and a Bible and sitting off by myself (hoping that I’m not too anti-social!). These times refresh my spirit and bring focus to my days.
Thanks for sharing from Buchanan, I’d like to read that book.
Rest begins with not being arrogant enough to think that if YOU stop….the WORLD stops. It’s a slap-in-the-face realization to choose to rest (even if it kills you) and watch as the world….your world….goes on just fine without you. This control freak is learning to enjoy the freedom of not being in control. It’s a free-fall ride that’s quite satisfying.
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