Reflections on a “Snow Day”

Remember, when you were in school, how we’d wait for the announcement, the evening before or early the next morning, that “school would be closed” due to the snow?

I can still recall the shouts of joy at that good news!  There’s nothing like an unexpected “day off”!  Bring out the sleds!  Get the chocolate ready!

We all had one yesterday.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.  Did you “take it easy”?  I did (although I did write this blog).

It struck me how refreshing this “down time” was.  Yes, I caught up on some mail and phone calls.  But, I also spent a little longer at my prayers, did some good reading, took a nap, spent ten minutes more on the treadmill, and finished reading my Christmas cards, always uplifting as I’m reminded of good friends, and spent time lingering over meals here at St. Patrick’s.

In a way, yesterday’s “snow day” was a Sabbath.  This is really the way God wants us to spend every Sunday!

I always admire how seriously our Jewish neighbors take their Sabbath.  Senator Joseph Lieberman has a splendid book, The Gift of Rest, proposing that obedience to the third of the Ten Commandments, “Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day,” needs a revival in our society.  He reminds us that American history has always shown a deference to the Sabbath, realizing that a day spent with the Lord, our families, our friends, in rest, recreation, and reflection, is good for body, soul, and society.

The other value that was so obvious yesterday is that this “snow day” brings us all together.   Everybody was united in preparation for the blizzard (even if it did not materialize!).  We worried about travelers, about our neighbors, especially the sick and elderly, about our homeless, the hospitals, healthcare facilities and emergency workers.  We were one in common concern!  Alleluia!

Now, today, “back to routine” – – but refreshed and renewed!  That’s how we could be every Monday if we take the Sabbath seriously!