I will be away for a week. I thought it would be a good idea before September starts. I will pray, read, do some movies, and spend time with friends and family. I might even do some cooking. I haven’t been faithful to some of the things I learned on sabbatical like taking time to do the simple things: watch the deer, take a walk, smell the flowers. I’m aware but I need to practice these things. What’s the big deal? I learned that if I/we don’t take the time to rest, to be with loved ones, to be quiet, to treat rest as something sacred, we can lose ourselves. Sabbatical, from the word “Sabbath”, is about reverencing the quiet times and the quiet within us. All of us are pulled into the frenzy of consumption and accomplishment. The first of the Ten Commandments is “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.” Keep that in mind with this saying: I’m worth it!” Try saying it: “I am worth taking a break. I’m worth going for a walk and feeling the cooler night air. I am worth sitting down and reading a book.” If you like what you are reading, I have the book for you: Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller. It might just save your life. It helped save mine.
    
So I am going to take some time off. I think I will sit on Broad Street in Red Bank at a place called Zebu’s and have a coffee and bagel and people watch. What will you do to reverence yourself and the gift of God and quiet within you?

Fr. Andy Prachar