Yearly sabbath

“No one knows the day or hour…” Matthew 24:36. 

Anyone else feel like Matthew may have been talking about that foggy time between Christmas and New Year’s? You’re in a post-Christmas coma induced by Christmas cookies and eggnog. The kids aren’t in school, and half your regular haunts aren’t open. If you’re working, many of your coworkers are not. Nothing has quite made it back to reality and routine yet. 

Embrace it.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a bit of timeless in betweenness, take it.
 
This is our yearly Sabbath. This is a time for reflection, rest, and reset. You do not need to take down all your Christmas decorations right away. You do not need to try and fill time and space. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to be Mary, sitting at Jesus’ feet, just listening. 

Listen for the lessons you learned this past year.
Listen for the ways you’ve grown. 
Listen for the ways you didn’t get it quite right.
Listen for the ways The Divine loves you anyways. 

Listen to the stillness of a nativity after all the visitors have left - Mary and Joseph alone with their baby treasuring all of this in their hearts (Luke 2:19) and pondering what is to come.  Treasure this past year, with all its ups and downs, challenges and triumphs. In a few days we will celebrate the gift of a New Year and a fresh start. But for now, accept the gift of Sabbath.