Shabbat

If I were to describe this season in one word, it would be experiment. I’ve been experimenting a lot in the kitchen, experimenting with recipes, routines, rhythms and traditions. 

Several months ago I read a book called “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World”. This book drew my curiosity towards what it means to really observe the sabbath. Friends recommended The Sabbath by Rabi Abraham Joshua Heschel. I was captivated by the holiness of the sabbath day. Something I am continuously struck by is how far Christians have wandered from the Bible. 

A few weeks ago I prepared our first Shabbat dinner, with the challah bread being the most important part. I love bread and I love baking, so I was thoroughly excited to learn about making a new bread. It turned out fantastically.

Our family scurried about the house as we tried to prepare our shabbat meal before sundown. The kids all took their part; Martine helping to chop vegetbales, Kharis washing dishes and Kekeli sweeping the floors. It felt magical as we all hurried to prepare. I turned off the lights, and quickly scrambled to find a liturgy to lead us through the prayers. We sat down as the sun was setting and began our prayers. 

There was a sparkle in the children’s eyes as they looked around in wonder at what we were doing. I’ve never been huge on liturgy, but as I read through the prayers, my breath was nearly taken from me at the beauty of this tradition; to pause and to remember. 

“Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who is the Author of peace. You who made the Sabbath, enter our home this night. Almighty God, grant us and all our loved ones rest on this Sabbath day. May the light of the candles drive out among us the spirit of anger and the spirit of fear. Send your blessings that we may walk in the ways of your Word and your light. Enter our hearts this night. You, who made the Sabbath, come sit at table with us. Embrace us with your Tent of Peace. Heavenly Father, we rejoice in your creation! It is from you that we receive every good and perfect gift. Giver of life and love, grant us your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”https://christianrefuge.org/keeping-the-sabbath-a-christian-liturgy-for-the-family/

Kossi prayed for me and blessed me and I did the same for him in return. As Kossi went from child to child to pray for them, they each sat so still, mesmerized. The moment felt so holy. 

What I am learning in my homemaking and the sabbath is the importance of rhythms, routines and being prepared. In order to be prepared for our Saturday evening Shabbat meal, I need to begin preparing on thursday night by feeding my sourdough starter so that on Friday morning I can prepare the bread that I will bake on Saturday morning. 

As I have spent significant time in the kitchen this past season; routinely making bone broth, pasturizing milk, making yogurt and cheese, among a few things, I’ve realized how far we have gone from what I think God’s initial design of humanity was. How we weren’t created to live alone, how one woman wasn’t intended to bare the burden of the home. 

While we have only celebrated two shabbat meals, I am learning the beauty of rhythms. Our first shabbat I was able to really enter rest by turning off the wifi on my phone and putting it away. Last week I wasn’t able to do that as we traveled to my friend’s farm on Sunday and I needed to stay connected. 

It has been a busy week and I am looking forward to really resting this sabbath.  My challah bread dough is in the fridge waiting for me to roll it out so I can prepare for this evening’s shabbat meal. I hope you are blessed this advent season.