Gwen and I have been focused for a year now on learning, practicing and growing about Sabbath. It's been one of the most life giving things we've EVER done to have this focus. I think I've counted 11 books that we've read on this subject and in the upcoming book, Soul Custody (released in August 2010), I give my own perspective on what it means to "Cease the Insanity by Practicing Sabbath Keeping." One of the ideas I've tried to incorporate on Sabbath this past year is to read and write poetry--a practice that Wendell Berry, famous Kentucky farmer and author has practiced for years. Though I'm also growing in my love and appreciation of poetry, here's a Sabbath poem I wrote a while back and discovered in a pile of papers beside my desk as I was looking for something else. Sit with this and don't grade me on my poetry writing--for I know I'm a beginning but allow the Lord to perhaps use this to stretch you a bit.
The Sabbath Gate by Stephen W. Smith
The Sabbath gate is narrow. No room for burdens borne the other six.
For six days there is the sorrowful weight of work and toil.
Not on this day, though.The gate is here to remind us all
To cease, quit and stop.Were it not here we would never cease; and thus never truly live.
Through this gate, we must lay all down and carry nothing, nothing, nothing.
Then everything is waiting on us: Sabbath Blessing.Through the gate there is this, yes this, Sabbath Blessing.
In Sabbath promise we lean forward in anticipation into the grace of of the gate's promise.
Eager we lay down all the cumbersome things.
Our drooping shoulders have carried thus far.Sabbath blessing for today the wind brings.
And no care can pull me down.For all has been left at Sabbath's gate for me to pick up tomorrow.
Copyright 2010. Stephen W. Smith. All Rights Reserved.