Response to Kristin's "Untitled"

So I was about to post this as a comment response to Kristin's "Untitled", but then realized it was probably too long to just be a comment. So it grew into a blog post of it's own.

I'm about to move out on my own with no roommate, to a city where the only people I know are my co-workers and because of my job title I'm discouraged from getting very close to any of them.

As far as the church thing if you get the weekend shift... I know it's cliche, but look outside the box. Look for places that meet more than just Sunday morning. Look for Saturday night services, and mid-week meeting times. Start a Christian community in your apartment complex or wherever you choose to live. At least, these are the ideas and things that I plan on doing. I may have even already found my church.

I'm fighting the same thoughts about Sabbath at my work, both for myself and for the people who work for me. For my role I have to work every other weekend because that's just the way it is. No ifs ands or buts. Sometimes I work early, sometimes mid-day, sometimes afternoon/late, (it rotates). For the people who work for me, we tell them, "This is retail. Or business happens on weekends. If you can't work weekends, find another job." Except usually most people don't say it quite as bluntly as that. And they won't tell the people who've worked there a long time that either. But that's another blog post.

Either way, over the past five years or so of over-working myself, I've come to realize the importance of having down time. I could be spiritual and call it "Sabbath Time" but I'll be honest because what I do on those days isn't always "holy". I play games. I goof off online. I watch movies. I generally don't do much around the house. Sometimes I pray. Sometimes I'll play worship songs. Usually though, I don't.

Perhaps over the next five years I'll realize the importance of focusing on God on those off-days. But perhaps not. Who knows? What I do know is that it seems humans require a balance between everyday life that pushes your body/mind/spirit up to the red (car analogy), and times of idling. But it doesn't always have to idle, it could be just driving in another direction. Okay, maybe it was a bad analogy, but I think you get what I'm saying.

I think Qohelet said it the best, "There is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work." Finding satisfaction in work is not to be confused with overworking oneself. For that would be meaningless. Also, Pete Seeger (and The Byrds) also agreed with Qohelet on this one, "To everything there is a season."