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A few weeks ago, by way of invitation, I joked about not being the one you wanted writing about ways to sabbath. Alas, we were one shy of covering the planned weeks, so it appears you’re stuck with me this week. Which is fine, except that I’ve been racking my brain for what to say, almost to no avail. And then last night I remembered: the second blog post I ever wrote, the second ever of these weekly SMC blogs, was about sabbath! It was, in fact, when I began thinking about the series we’re currently in, “Sabbath as Resistance”. And this created a new internal debate: what is the etiquette for recycling blog posts? But before I point back there, a consideration of another restful, rejuvenating practice for me: poetry. I’m far from an expert, but sometimes that’s part of the gift. I don’t get them easily, which forces me to be still and consume them carefully. To imagine, explore, and consider, and all of that slowly. As I consider cadence, language, flow, sometimes they speak a bit to me and offer comfort. Sometimes they challenge. Sometimes they remind me of those I miss, of experiences I don’t want to forget, or of those that are quite the opposite. But I often find in poetry an opportunity to explore and dream and vision. And rest. One of my favorite poets is e. e. cummings, and his short poem “let it go – the” feels appropriate for a sabbath minded exploration. Not least because so much of the practice of sabbath is letting go. Not just stopping work, but stopping work so we can let go of its sovereignty. And, as the poet reminds in his closing words, we are called to let go not simply to be lighter, or more well-rounded, or even more faithful, but because “so comes love”. May it be so. If you’d like to revisit, or read for the first time, my April 20 blog post “Smokey Sabbath”, you can find it here. And I hope you’ll take a moment to experience cummings’ poem, shared below. Grace and peace be with you, my friends. Rev. Ben Richards let it go – the
by e. e. cummings let it go – the
smashed word broken
open vow or
the oath cracked length
wise – let it go it
was sworn to
go let them go – the
truthful liars and
the false fair friends
and the boths and
neithers – you must let them go they
were born
to go let all go – the
big small middling
tall bigger really
the biggest and all
things – let all go
dear so comes love
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