Unplugged
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 3:34PM Guest blogger - Rev. Sheena Trotter-Dennis
On Sunday we explored the idea of rest (Sabbath) - and taking intentional time out of our busy schedules to disconnect from that which drains us, and to reconnect to that which sustains us.
What I didn't mention in the message on Sunday is the complimentary practice of fasting - intentionally abstaining from something. Throughout history, people have followed this tradition - often fasting from food, but from other things as well (TV, shopping, computers, etc.) The intention is to focus on our reliance in God.
In our modern lives, we often believe we can do everything and completely rely on ourselves to do so. One scholar I read this week said this was the true problem with Adam and Eve's eating of the "forbidden fruit." The problem was that they broke the fast - they believed they could have it all.
We live as if there are no limits. The scholar said that we often believe it is our "God-given right to use every resource and creature on earth for personal enjoyment or gain." And sometimes we need to be reminded that this is not so. And, so, the two practices of rest and fasting go hand in hand. We are invited to rest, to recenter ourselves in God's love, and to fast - to remember that it's not all about us.
Do you think that intentional Sabbath and/or fasting is helpful in our contemporary life? If so, how do you do it?
- Sheena
P.S. On a related note - the videos we watched on Sunday were related to the Sabbath Manifesto. This group has produced a documentary called Connected. There will be a free screening of this film on Tuesday, Feb 28 at 7:15 pm at St. Thomas United Church in Calgary (100 Hawkwood Blvd. NW).
Note: The audio recording of Sheena's sermon is available here.