I'm not exactly sure what one is supposed to do or not do on the Sabbath, so I'm making up my own rules. First off, I'm starting a little early with today so I can get in six Sundays before I leave for Germany on Palm Sunday weekend. I'll be in Germany visiting friends for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday weekends, so my personal Lenten journey will probably end when that trip begins. One of my first rules is no television or movies, although tonight I do want to watch the Academy Awards, so I may end my day by breaking my first rule. My goal isn't to make a bunch of rigid rules though, but to be more thoughtful and planful in finding time to spend enriching my christian life. One of my goals for the year was to keep a prayer journal at least once a week. I had not started this yet, and so I'm hoping that carving out some time each Sunday during Lent to spend in extended prayer, specifically in written prayer, will get me started on this goal, and extend it beyond Lent. Writing out my prayers has always been helpful as it helps me to focus and reflect. Another goal has to been to pray for my church at least once each week, so that is definitely becoming part of the Lenten practice as well. I'm embarrassed by how little I pray for my church now.
I also want to spend time studying scripture, something which I have found myself neglecting over the past year. I'm finishing up a study of Esther with a few friends, and I think I want to continue some Old Testament studying during this time. I'm also rereading the book "Mudhouse Sabbath" by Lauren Winner. I started this book (and many others) last year and never finished it. It's a very short, easy read, so I'm starting over to read it, hoping it might give me some good insight into how to use my six week practice in honoring the Sabbath. It's also another one of my 2009 goals to finish all the books I started last year, so this will help me achieve that as well.
In the introduction to the Mudhouse Sabbath, Winner writes that "practice is to Judaism what belief is to Christianity". Her perspective in writing this book is that she grew up Jewish and converted to Christianity during college. As she relishes her new understanding of Jesus Christ, she also misses some of the practices of the Jewish faith. She goes on to say "your faith might come and go, but your practice ought not waver. (Indeed, Judaism suggests that the repeating of the practice is the best way to ensure that a doubter's faith will return)". I find that as I get older the Christian faith is less about the emotional experiences that you experience in youth like church camp, CIY, Bible college, etc. and more about the perserverance of your faith, your ability to continue to believe and act out those beliefs, even when the emotion isn't there. I've always been fascinated with the concept of self-discipline, always searching for ways to make myself more disciplined, and this plays into that fascination I suppose.
Well, on to finish my time of study and prayer. And for my loyal reader who has been requesting for some new cat updates, a couple cute cat photos:
The cats helping me get ready in the morning. They are not really that helpful.
Close up of Topher
Willie in the sink. He likes to drink from the faucet while he is in the sink and it is dripping on him.
