I see faith through the Sabbath.

Now I did not come from a Christian background, but the Sabbath is universal and universally sacred. We all need time to rest. In this busy world we are said to be human doings more than beings.

But I need to be.

To be with the sunshine, the morning dew, catches with the dog and a strong heart.

I reject the hungary ghost, always consuming but never full. We don’t need things as much as we need to use what we have.

To enjoy what is here now and to love.

Rest is essential. But when things get hard and rushed it is the first thing that we give up, that we relinquish is sleep, time off, time together. We give up these necessities all to get work done, to strive towards the joy, the peace the fulfilment we crave.

The secret is, it is ours for the asking the moment we ignore the clamouring voices, turn away from the hustle and bustle and stop.

Joys come in rest, the things we crave, we need, we hope and pray for can only blossom when we stop pushing for them.

Sabbath is enoughness, radical trust that things will be ok, if you let the world take care of itself for a time.

Let go. It existed before you and will after you.

We are waiting for you on the other side where it is peaceful. Ease your responsibilities down, circle those tense shoulders. Let your breathing deepen. It is time.

Sabbath is celebration, we don’t notice joys, magics, the tiny gorgeous moments of new bird song, crazy kitty or dog or child antics, funny smiles and sunrises if we are looking forward all the time.

Sabbath is that second when your heart lifts in sheer joy at the glory of our world and your own humanity.

Sabbath is mindfulness, it is being fully alive, fully present. Not on your iPhone or thinking about making the dinner next week. Here and now and the peace within this moment.

Sabbath can be a cup of tea and a moment of release after a long day. A deep breathe before a difficult journey. A phone call with a loved one. An extra half an hour in bed, warm soft and sleepy.

Sabbath can be half an hour with your journal, an afternoon on your project, on painting your toe nails, time spent on something which will not earn you income, actively heal your body, tone your thighs or gain you another qualification but will bring you peace.

Sabbath is not a day in which we are prohibited, it is a retreat, an oasis, a guarded time of solace, to be.

Your creative spirit cannot be fuelled unless you feed it. Nourish your soul with space, gift yourself sabbath.

I was invited to blog about faith by the wonderful Jennifer Wells Mccullough (you can find her over at www.livefromyoursoul.com). She is launching a super new e-book called Claiming the F-Word: Thinking, Writing, and Talking About Faith which I am so enjoying exploring.

Jennifer has kindly offered a copy of this book to one of my readers. So, competition time darlings, email me how you celebrate the Sabbath to grace AT gracequantock DOT com to win a copy. I will choose my favourite description, and will announce the winner at the end of May.

To faith, to sabbath and to your sweet hearts!