by Rebekah Simon-Peter | May 23, 2013
Jonathan Ormes, retired NASA scientist, and I made plans to meet while I was on my way to lead a women’s retreat on the topic of sabbath and the environment. I wanted to talk with him about my theory that practicing sabbath is an environmentally friendly discipline.
“Absolutely,” he said. “In fact, we can tell from space where and when people are observing the sabbath all around the world.” “Really?” I asked, “from space?” This was better than I thought.
He said, “We can see that levels of nitrous oxides-byproducts of fossil-fuel combustion, among other things-fluctuate during the week. They go down on Friday in Islamic countries; down on Saturday in Israel; and down on Sunday in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Those levels don’t go down at all in China; the numbers stay pretty steady throughout the week. This lowering of nitrous oxide levels is called the sabbath effect or the weekend effect.” In other words, the less people drive and the less industry produces, the cleaner the air.
Listening to Dr. Ormes, I marveled at the convergence of science and spirituality. The Scriptures call us to be stewards of the creation; science lets us know how we are doing at it. According to Dr. Ormes, not too well. For the elevated presence of nitrous oxides during the week is connected to ozone smog and acid rain, which are dramatically changing the atmospheric composition.
Perhaps it is no coincidence that the intended outcome of sabbath observance-being refreshed (Exodus 23:12; 31:17)-can also be translated as “paused-for-breath.” Childhood asthma is on the increase, as are other respiratory difficulties. All are linked to the quality of our air. Sabbath rest literally clears the air and gives us breathing room. In fact, sabbath reveals itself as the first environmentally friendly biblical covenant. Sabbath is good for people and the earth. It is not a stretch to say that faith grounded in the Bible is “green.” Sustainability is built into the very fabric of creation.
Which day should you observe sabbath? Some Christians are adopting the practice of the early church by honoring the creation on the seventh day of the week, Saturday, and the Lord’s resurrection on the first day of the week, Sunday. Others reclaim the dual emphases of creation and Christ together on Sunday. Another option is to carve out mini-sabbaths at another time during the week. It may not matter as much which day you set apart as how you start to synchronize your life with the rhythms of creation so that healing may begin.
Sabbath is important for reducing our stress and our impact on the planet, but do not make it impossible to experience sabbath. If you cannot start with a day of rest, how about an hour? Then month by month expand that hour until you have reached a full day of rest. I invite you to try it. You just might like it. I will be right alongside you
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Sep 21, 2010
I can tell when I’ve had too much roof over my head and not enough sky. I get grumpy. The top of my head hurts. And I feel lonely in my otherwise cozy home.
That’s the state I was in when I attended the recent Annual Meeting of the Wyoming Association of Churches. Between knee problems and the damned computer, I hadn’t spent much time in my hiking boots this summer. It was more time indoors than outdoors.
By the time I got to our Annual Meeting, it had been raining for several days. No big desire to get outside there, even though it was gorgeous Grand Teton National Park. One rainy morning featured outdoor worship led by the inestimable Rev. Dr. Sally Palmer. A gifted liturgist, she used nature itself to convey the message of worship.
When do you feel part of the whole of creation? she asked us.
With rain dripping on the hood of my jacket, my mind wandered back to the first time I ever went hiking. It was a small, narrow path in the leafy woods of Connecticut, just wide enough for one person. There was something about hiking on that footpath through the trees and ferns that made me feel right sized.
Ever since then, hiking on small narrow paths through leafy woods has brought out that same sense in me.
So why not do it more?
Is it just me, or does it seem that the older you get, the less permission you have to spend time outdoors? After all, there’s WORK to be done: most of it requiring one to be hooked up to a laptop, modem, cell phone, or other electronic device. Or getting in a car and driving somewhere. There’s precious little time to just be. Especially outdoors.
Fast forward one week. I was in Spearfish Canyon in South Dakota’s Black Hills National Forest. Another gorgeous place. I was there to lead the 10th Annual Ecumenical Women’s Retreat. Right outside the lodge where we were staying were trailheads that took one deeper into the canyon. But alas, it wasn’t part of my agenda to hike. I had WORK to do–to get ready for the day ahead.
But something or Someone lured me away from the lodge and the parking lot to the trailhead beyond. There I found myself walking, picking up speed as I went, up a narrow trail through a colorful fall forest. Three quarters of a mile later I had ascended 1000′ and was standing on top of the canyon wall. Enshrouded in fog, I was breathing hard, in need of water and exhilarated!
Coincidence that I found myself here? I think not.
A few weeks ago, I realized that being in nature is what gives me a sense of purpose, spiritual connectedness and raison d’etre. It’s the place that makes me happiest. It wipes away my worries, slows down my mind, and connects my soul with the great I AM. It doesn’t require a certain amount of money or time or skill or expertise.
But more of us are doing it less and less. Richard Louv, in his best seller, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder” writes about the pitfalls of not spending time outdoors: depression, lack of creativity and imagination, lack of problem solving skills.
All of that has increased with digital and electronic play having taken the place of unstructured time outdoors. Not only for kids, but adults too.
Two winters ago, I wound up with Vitamin D deficiency, a clear sign of too much roof overhead and not enough sky. Too much work and not enough play. I’m bound and determined to not let that happen again!
This Wednesday night begins the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, in which people spend time in a “sukkah” or booth as a sign of God’s providential care during the Exodus from Egypt. Interestingly, this temporary structure is kosher only if you can see sky through the roof!
Now, that’s my kind of holiday!
No sukkah in my back yard this year. Even so, I’m shutting off the computer, logging off of Facebook, and getting outside. Under the big night sky of Wyoming.
Ahhhhhh…
