The Gift of Shabbat
How to sustain as a well-known leader in the movement? Tired, mother, woman of color, incredible devotion to human rights. Your energy, expertise, tireless advocacy, service…your devotion to attaining a federal goal that’s more challenged by the day.
You’re exhausted, you tell me. You tell me about the pressure, the deadlines, the stress. You tell me you’re scared of burnout. But you also tell me about the passion, the joy, the solidarity.
And you tell me in a quiet voice you don’t know what self-care really means; you never saw it modeled for you by your immigrant parents, but you want it. You ask about the difficult task of managing your calendar for “balance.” I tell you about the Sabbath. How about taking a Shabbat as practice? “Is that something I could really do?” Why not? The work, the expectations, the deadlines… “The work will still be there after Shabbat.” The work will always be there when the path and the goal are the same.
“If you could do anything for 25 hours, besides work, what would you do?” You smile at the thought, and tell me about dreaming of time with your children and partner, nature, food, rest, play. “Keep going,” I say, sensing your energy lighten as you list your joys. Walking, friends, reading, dancing. Nothing. Nothing at all sounds good, too.
“I want a Sabbath. I didn’t think I could take a Sabbath. I’m not Jewish.”
The gift of Shabbat is not just for Jews. What if we all practiced separating time? Normalizing the ritual of self-care. Normalizing community. Normalizing rest. Normalizing joy. And, not just normalizing but celebrating! Celebrating abundance. Celebrating blessings. Celebrating love. Celebrating wonder. Celebrating friendship. Celebrating so hard that we stay up late singing and eating and dancing. Connecting over conversation. Candles lit. Pleasure. Unplugged, relaxing into holy rest.
“This sounds revolutionary.”
This is an ancient practice, old revolutionary technology still very much for our modern day. “An island in time.” Practice this. See what comes up. See how it feels in your body, and for your family. See how it plays out with your partner, your children, and friends. See if or how it impacts your work in the movement. Just see what comes next…
“I will practice the gift of a Sabbath.”
Revolution. So be it. May it be so.
