When Rituals Find Meaning

I grew up in a Seventh-day Adventist Christian home. We Adventists are peculiar in a way unlike many other Christian denominations. Like the Jews, we honor the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as a Sabbath - a day on which we set aside the routines of weekly activity, and rest - essential services exempted. Rest, meaning casual, relaxed, respite, different., change of the routine. There are a wide variety of Sabbath activities among Adventists. For some, it's going to church with the family, enjoying family meals in a less hectic environment - in a relaxed atmosphere. For many others, it may include a quiet day at home reading; being with the family, or enjoying a jog or bike ride alone or with friends; a hike in the forest or a gentle stroll through the park. For some others, it's an opportunity to visit those confined by illness, incarceration, or the limitations of aging, visiting hospitals, prisons, nursing homes.

But there some practices that have become rituals. One of those rituals is the way we greet each other. As the sun sets in the western horizon on Friday evenings, the greeting that transcends all and in every language imaginable is: Happy Sabbath! Shabbat Shalom (Jewish), Feliz Sábado (Spanish or Portuguese), Bon Sabbat (French), Salanapa Sabadi Kadepa Gogodala (New Guinea), Sabato njema (Swahili), Gelukkig Sabbat (Dutch) and hundreds more. "Good morning" or "Good day" is often reserved for the rest of the week or selectively used for those presumed to be not Adventists. It has become cultural lingo. It is a greeting that acknowledges the feeling of end-of-the-week exhaustion and gives one a sense of relaxation; of calm exhalation of the previous week's load of responsibility and an opportunity to project hope for the week ahead. Rest, respite, reinvigoration, relaxation, revitalization!

In Jewish tradition, whenever another celebration or holiday fell on the weekly Sabbath, it was regarded as a "high" day - an opportunity for a double celebration. As eventful as this week has been, the news just got better, and Sabbath, sweeter. In a way, a high day! My oncologist texted me early Friday morning because, as he said, he wanted me to wake up to good news. The text was as follows:
"Mr Archer, sorry to text you so early, but I wanted you to wake up with good news: no cancer on the lymph node nor the scar."
That was the Pathology report.

So, with the deepest, sincerest meaning possible, "Happy Sabbath!" It's a high day!

Love and blessings,
Len