Our toddler has a fun obsession with stacking things.
Blocks on the table.
Cubes of watermelon on his plate.
Couch cushions on the floor.
He carefully and intentionally stacks object upon object making impressively tall towers that stretch well above his two year old stature.
With great focus he builds.
Attentive and eager to explore the world and to participate in creating something new.
But sometimes in the midst of his hard work and attention, these structures don't stay together like he had hoped.
And in the blink of an eye it all comes crumbling down, scattering all over the table or floor below.
And while some days there are tears of frustration, lately when this happens, our toddler has had the practice of taking a deep breath.
Inhaling.
Exhaling.
And looking at the blocks, cushions, or watermelon cubes askew he says with an eagerness, "I will try again."
And this week, this image of breathing deep has reminded me of the power of sabbath.
That when we are left feeling a bit askew.
Perhaps with our own tears of frustration.
In these moments and more, sabbath comes to us as a gift.
As an invitation to pause.
To breathe.
To inhale.
To exhale.
To stop and recenter.
To remember that our identity is not based on our achievements or our failures, but rather in God's great love for us.
So today, Dear Friends, you're invited into this sabbath space.
To breathe deep the promise of God's abundant love which is for you and all creation.
For God has given us this gift of sabbath, this space to breathe, so that we might be reminded, renewed, and strengthened as we go forth to share God's abundant love with all the world.