June 26, 2006
- Day 6 - Week 12 - Sunday Rest
Sunday is traditionally a day
of rest. Perhaps the principle is based on the
Genesis account of creation whereby the hard work
was completed in six days and on the seventh day God
rested. Genesis, like any great myth points to
truth. Adam and Eve, for example, represent the
creation of the human family and do not reflect the
names of the first man and woman. The earth formed
over eons of time and life evolved through a series
of fits and starts, not in a prescribed order as
outlined by the authors of the Torah. However, the
truth is intact. We are here and so are the
wonderful interrelated parts of creation. In
addition, we all need a bit of down time, especially
we humans who are given the task of maintaining and
preserving in a healthy manner all sections of this
inherited gift of creation.
Thus, when Sunday rolls around
at the end of the six days I am deeply appreciative
that I have permission to flake if I need to, or to
simply complete the ‘honey do’ list that piles up
during the week. Actually, my health depends upon my
getting my rest. No, I have not figured out how to
use my situation to avoid responsibility, and the
recycled bin must be emptied and life must go one,
but Sunday has a special purpose.
For some Sunday means church,
yet in other traditions that day is Saturday, but
for almost everyone Sunday is family day. Sunday is
often farmer’s market day in our lives and a place
where we linger, sample organic offerings, and say
hello to friends. This Sunday we ran into three
friends, two of whom new of my illness, one who did
not. In all three separate few minutes of sharing
each shared a personal story about a family member
with cancer.
Keith’s wife continues to
battle breast cancer. Her struggle is now in its 18th
year. Lee mentioned his mother and her on-going
chemo therapy woes, and Mary-Ellen, who did not know
of my situation, came to tears. The tears were in
part triggered by reliving the memory of her sister
in law who died last year of a brain tumor. We will
talk again shortly because her family worked with a
cancer nutritionist from Denver who has already
worked up a ‘super food’ program of healing.
As we learned growing up
stories are wonderful for their magic and mystery,
but also for their message. What is the moral of
these stories shared with me at the market is a good
question to ask. On our days of rest we break our
normal work day routine only to discover that in the
interruptions comes the message. Katy and I have
walked among the stalls of vegetables for years, but
now the chance encounter allows others to express
their concern to me and for me, but also to widen
the story to include their family members who have
been tested by cancer. This is the human story at
its best.
Creation is not about
separateness but togetherness. We were created as a
family of differences, but all relatives in the
end. What happens to my good friend Mary-Ellen’s
sister-in-law is of consequence to my life. Our
stories are all one story for we are part of this
incredible puzzle called creation. Taking time to
rest is for renewal and reenergizing. When rested
we can then re-engage so as to make our world a
healthier place for tomorrow’s children.
Back to Week
12 |
