Sanctuary and Sabbath
I was invited to go out to dinner with a group of family law attorneys from Tarrant County. I had recently passed the Bar exam, was a “baby attorney” (even though I was over 40 years old), and attending my first Family Law continuing education event. I was pleased to have been invited to join them.
They could tell I was obviously a second-career attorney and someone asked what I had done before becoming an attorney. . I responded, “I was a pastor, and actually still serve a small church.” After the usual “Why are you coming over to the dark side?” (Even attorneys make these jokes), one person commented, “I have come to hate going to church. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against Christianity or pastors, but without fail someone will approach me and ask me a legal question or ask me about his/her case. I work seventy plus hours a week and just want one day to take a break, but the people don’t let me, so I finally quit going. My Sundays are much better now that I do not go to church.”
One time a client of Jannette’s who was not a member of the church, found Jannette in the choir room one Sunday morning to ask a non-urgent question about his case.
Unfortunately incidents of this type are not rare nor are they limited to attorneys. People will ask County commissioners about the roads, ask a doctor about an ache, make comments to school board members, complain to a principle about a teacher, ask the extension agent about trimming trees and so on.
As we try to take a much needed Sabbath, we need to be conscientious about letting others enjoy their much needed Sabbath. Our pews are filled with people whose weeks are filled with chaos, stress, interruptions and schedules that are out of control. The golden rule seems to be an appropriate guide for the ministry of honoring the Sabbath.
When we gather for worship, we are blessed to gather in a beautiful sanctuary, with magnificent stained-glass windows. Some synonyms for sanctuary are: safe haven, shelter, asylum, harbor and retreat. Sundays are our opportunity for retreat and asylum from the rest of the week and to help us get ready for another week.
I pray that no one who is part of church has ever said or ever will be able to say, “My Sundays are much better now that I don’t go to church.”
See you at the place of “sanctuary,”
Pastor Jeff
