Entering Into Sabbatical

It is Saturday night and I can't believe that I am not preparing for worship tomorrow morning.  I will  miss my faith community - the joy I experience with this beloved group of people.

It is my belief that we were made to live in community with each other - each community creating themselves - over and over again - as new people come and others leave.  My thoughts often turn to Moses and the Hebrew people as he led them out of slavery into freedom.  But first, they had to journey in the wilderness - the dry, desert for forty long years. 

The people held been slaves to Pharaoh and conditions were unbearable.  Along comes Moses performing signs and wonders as he says "Let my people go."

After terrible plagues the Hebrew people are set free.   They flee Egypt until they face the Red Sea.  Again, another miracle from God saves them.   Many of us may remember that majestic scene when Charlton Heston  (Moses) parted the Red Sea.  

Fast forward a little - the people had been out in the dry, unknown desert for about three days. They could not find water.  They want water, they need water.  Even the animals are thirsty.  They come to a place called Marah and the water is bitter.   Earlier they had been dancing and playing tambourines.  Today they begin to grumble and complain.  Not against God, but against Moses.  

After crying out to God, Moses throws a stick in the water and it becomes sweet.  They head out and end up in a place called Elim with twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees.  

Maybe you have guessed now where I am going with this.  Sweet Waters.  That place of rest and refreshment from the God who heals and invites us to our own place of Elim.  From a place of bitterness to a place of sweetness.  

I have named my blog Sweet Waters as I slow down and obey God's invitation.  I  hear the words of Jesus "Come to me all who are weary......  . "

The story of Elim is a story we are all familiar with as we reflect on our lives.  There is another reason I like the name Sweet Waters.

When I lived on the Outer Banks of N.C.  there was a great restaurant named Sweet Waters.  Good food and  good times with family and  friends.   Sweet Waters - a place of rest and nourishment.   

God make a promise to the Hebrew people telling them that God is a God who heals.  Even when we go from praising God to grumbling and complaining.   When we become bitter and angry because of life's disappointments, God offers us healing.

My prayer for the next few days:  God, I open myself to your healing.  Amen.

I invite you on this journey with me.  Maybe we can all create our own place of Elim over the next few weeks. 

Shalom,

Rev. Judy

This story can be found in Exodus beginning with Chapter 1 - 15.