“The Sabbath Wire” – February 25, 2009 I bring your greetings on this Ash Wednesday as we begin the 40-day journey of Lent toward the Easter celebration. Having returned recently from our trip to the Holy Land, I want to share with you the story of the Sabbath Wire as a reminder that we should not make the season of Lent a rigid set of rules but an opportunity for spiritual focus. Here is the story: Every time I go to the Holy Land (this was my fourth trip), I see something new and learn something new. This trip it was the Sabbath Wire which surrounds the upper city of Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee. Our group stayed in lower Tiberius, along the Sea in a beautiful setting which includes hotels, docks for fishing boats, hot springs, and a modern city. However there is also an upper Tiberius which is home to a large population of very devout and Orthodox Jews. On this trip our guide pointed out that the upper city is surrounded by a Sabbath Wire, which looks much like a set of telephone poles with a single wire. The wire surrounds the city and marks the limit of a “Sabbath day’s journey” from the center of the town. It is there to prevent any devout Jew from walking too far on the Sabbath. The wire keeps them from breaking the Sabbath rule about “working” by walking too far. Likewise in the hotel where we stayed in Jerusalem there was a Sabbath elevator which automatically went up one single floor at a time without any buttons being pushed – because, again, to push a button is considered “work” and a violation of the Sabbath. The sad thing, to me, about such rigid rules is that they actually miss the point of the Sabbath. In the Hebrew scriptures, the Sabbath is for rest, reflection, prayer, family time, and pleasant walks to enjoy God’s creation. So the rule about a “Sabbath day’s journey” is all about taking a pleasant stroll. How sad that a good thing – taking a stroll and enjoying God’s creation – has become a rigid rule complete with a wire to mark the limit of walking too far. I trust that we will not make Lent into a time that is so rigid we miss its point. The point of Lent is prayer, preparation, reflection, repentance, and getting ready for Easter. It is not about giving up desserts or chocolate or some of the silly rules we have put upon ourselves. I suppose it is our rebellion against such silly rules that has caused so many of us to ignore Lent altogether. Surely there must be a balance here so that we can gain the spiritual growth of Lent without hindering ourselves with rigid rules and superficial sacrifices. I hope that you will have a meaningful season of Lent, one which allows you to focus upon your journey of faith with Jesus. God bless you!
25:6 Be mindful of thy mercy, O LORD, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to thy steadfast love remember me, for thy goodness' sake, O LORD!
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