The Sabbath isn't something we hear about in the news too often.
Despite an awful lot of misinformation about the subject, at
its core is a message about stepping outside the everyday routines and
obligations that so tightly bind us and, hopefully, centring ourselves
for a space of time each week on those realities and experiences that lie outside the
mundane. There's many a slip however, as the saying goes, between the
cup and the lip, and the Sabbath can end up as merely another burden
that restricts rather than liberates. On this matter I have some small
experience as a former member of a Sabbath-keeping Christian community
from back in my salad days.Which is a long-winded preamble to talk about the National Day of Unplugging, which I first heard about just this week, and begins Friday evening 1 March and runs through the following twenty-four hours (corresponding to the Sabbath hours). The idea, originally an initiative in the New York Jewish community, is to turn off the tech - the cell phones, laptops, tablets, PlayStations and assorted iThings, and reconnect with non-virtual reality.
Gotta say, I think the idea has it's merits. Those people who have gotten involved - and it's an idea that seems to have seeded well beyond its original roots - seem to have been (to use a word I don't use lightly) blessed. Blessed by opting out from Twitter, Facebook, email, texts and needless phone calls. Blessed to interact with real people, family and friends. You've also got to suspect that their stress levels dropped a couple of notches too.
So I've added it to my calendar this year. It's one "Jewish Holy Day" I don't mind adopting! Friday the 1st from sundown through till the same time on Saturday. If the idea appeals to you too, regardless of your religious tradition (or lack thereof) check out the links below.
http://nationaldayofunplugging.com/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/
Yeah, on the only day off that the wage earner has to actually get out and enjoy his life without the interference of going to church Sunday and watching ball games until church Sunday night.
ReplyDeleteRemember though, if you're going to "unplug", you have to park the car Friday until Saturday night too. Otherwise, you may come into contact with people out enjoying the only day off they have. Oh, and don't forget to turn off the lights at sundown.
Aw, you gotta be kidding. Chill! Legalistic sabbatarianism ain't what this is about.
ReplyDeleteNope. Not going to participate. All those electronic things constitute my relaxation and fulfillment but I don't use all of them. Besides, the time period and the fact that Jews, who started all this theistic nonsense, are behind it doesn't appeal to me. Warn't no 7-day creation. There isn't a god to create anything. I do as I damn well please any and all days now and tune out any time I decide I need to. Being basically retired helps.
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