Sabbath for Transition

Today is my sabbath - for a couple of days at the end of my week I step out of the fray, and regroup. Spring has sprung, and my focus is shifting. Today I'll take some time to ponder transitions of body, mind, and spirit.

My perfect sabbath is a celebration, a holiday. I keep it holy with my attitude: I don't rush, complain, or worry. Everything I do has a flavor of peace. I schedule some work, but it's work I find fulfilling, or uplifting. Simple is a great word to describe my ideal activities for the sabbath: Simple tasks, simple foods, and an undemanding schedule.

1. Word #6 - Authority

2. Shift my balance

3. Set intentions

1. Word #6 - Authority:

I'm reading a Pendle Hill pamphlet called Marking the Quaker Path: Seven Key Words Plus One, by Robert Griswold. This speaks to the condition of many Friends in my Meeting, who are ready to go deeper on this journey, and a large group of us are studying this booklet together this year. Last month I wrote about Discernment, and this month the word is Authority.

This is a short chapter. He is talking about acting on your convictions, speaking Truth to power, testifying to your testimonies, and eldering each other with love.

"The strength of every meeting is reflected accurately by the breadth of the willingness of members to take on the duties to be done and by the authority that goes with those responsibilities. ... This authority is an authority to love, and the world desperately needs to be authoritatively loved."

2. Shift my balance:

At the new moon last week a moved my focus to a new topic, but because I was sick I haven't given it much attention yet. 

Balance is how I find my center, the place where my soul lives; it touches all other areas of my life. My life flows around the solid base of my center. 

Goals for balance at the center might have to do with grounded-ness, finding clarity in chaos, embracing paradox, or allowing myself to flow with life’s changes. (Remind myself to look at change as an adventure not a disruption.) Also, this is the place of connection to Spirit- I might seek a closer relationship with the Spirit outside myself. 

My balance goals this month:

• Practice daily earth reverence - find peace in spring changes.
• Cultivate resilience by becoming more optimistic, flexible, and adaptable to the chaos surrounding me.
• Keep my purpose and priorities straight; embrace my freedom of choice and willpower.

3. Set intentions:

Last week I brainstormed some wild and crazy ideas for Late March and April, and today it's time to narrow it down a little, to the priority items that I could possibly focus on this next month. This isn't a list of the practical things I need to do this month; rather it's my top actions, studies, and growth goals that fit with the "taste" of this month of my life.

After I list my top 10-20 goals for the next 30 days, I'm ready to set some intentions for action. This is a time-consuming but important process. I'm going to choose a few to write today - those I might act on today - then work on a few more each day this week.

I intend to grow a daily habit of physical self care that includes morning stretches, a short before-lunch core workout, and a quick walk in the afternoon because my body carries me everywhere with strength and resilience, and this tiny bit of attention to my body every day is like a love note; it makes me feel cared for.

 

I intend to plant something every day this week (kale, onions, sunflowers, peas, zinnias, and herbs), because getting things started on time is how I'll make my garden grow. 

 

I intend to be a proactive teacher, and take time each week to really plan and prepare for teachable moments with my grandson (and First Day School) by writing about themes (including medicine art), researching, and gathering all the supplies and books in one place - ready to go when the time is right - because it's very satisfying to catch the moment when it comes, and be able to hold attention and interest, and to be able, then, to build on a solid foundation of themes and excitement.