Usually, one of the first things I do on this day, after I go to church, is sit down and pound out a sabbath post, because I usually have so much to do on Sunday to get ready for the coming week. Instead, I did my day in reverse. I got all of my class prep/work prep done first. Now, at 8:20 in the evening, I'm sitting down to pound out my sabbath post. Don't hold any high expectations for what you are about to read.
Generally, I don't get a whole lot of rest on the sabbath. I move from one task to another, without too much of a break. In fact, most of my days are like that. Mondays, I work and teach and write and plan. Tuesdays, I work and plan and clean my church (that's my fourth job, if you're counting). Wednesdays are the longest for me. I work and teach and office hour and teach. It's usually about a 15 to 16 hour day. Thursdays are my lightest days, usually. I work and then go home, unless I have some poetry thing in the evening (which has been happening for the last couple months). Fridays, I work and then clean. My weekend doesn't usually begin until about 7:30 at night. Saturdays, I do my house cleaning. Plus, I pick out church music and play the 4 p.m. Mass. Sundays, as I said, are reserved for getting ready for the upcoming week. Church in the morning. Classwork and work/work in the afternoon. In the evening, I'm brain dead. Which brings us back to Monday.
Put the above paragraph on repeat, and you have a little idea of what my life is like. If you saw any actual sabbath rest time in there, let me know. I haven't been able to squeeze that in yet. I have to think that the ancient Israelites didn't really follow the whole resting of the sabbath, either. I mean, they had crops to tend, sheep to shepherd, cheese to make. If they took a day off, people didn't eat, livestock died, and feta spoiled.
I guess "rest" is a relative thing. For example, typing this blog post is not a chore for me. That's why I decided to do it last. It's my reward for doing about five hours of lesson planning and grading and e-mailing. Some people would think of writing as a chore. I don't. For me, writing fills me with joy, unless I'm so tired that I can barely focus, which is the state I'm approaching right now.
In the best of worlds, I would write these blog posts in the morning, when my mind is fresh and unclogged from the day's worries and trials. That would be ideal. I find I write better in the morning. However, I do not live an ideal life. I work. A lot.
So, right now is my sabbath. About two hours of relaxing writing before bed. It may be one hour tonight.
Saint Marty is fading fast.
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