I'm not a church goer anymore, but I'm still a ministers daughter. And as a result, I've got a healthy respect for Sundays.
As a child, Sundays were sacred.
Sunday was the Lord's day.
God, church, and shared lunches were in, work was out.
Now my family was pentecostal and definitely not Amish, but I remember Mum used to prepare the Sunday lunch on Saturday, so our Sabbath could be just that, a day of rest.
I loved the pace of Sundays. It just felt slower.
Growing up in suburban Auckland in the 80's and 90's, shops were closed on the Sabbath. Especially in the 'Bible Belt' of Mt Roskill.
When I got my first part-time job at the Lynfield Palmers, Dad told me I couldn't work on Sundays. At the time I thought It was a bit stink, but I've come to appreciate the lessons it taught me.
Life was, I guess, much simpler back then. No cellphones. No 24 hour Kmart. Only dial up-internet (if you were lucky).
Since breaking ties with Christianity 20 odd years ago (and that's a whole other blog post), I've struggled to find a church replacement, and to be honest, I haven't quite landed on my perfect Sunday routine.
But a few of the key themes from my childhood Sundays have remained:
1) Slow down: Even God rested on the seventh day. We work better when we have had a chance to completely recharge, and this only happens when we put our work to the side for a day.
2) No cellphones: I know, I know, we didn't have cellphones as kids. But thats what made our 80's and 90's childhoods so simple and happy. We were present with ourselves and with others. So I've decided to not use my phone on Sundays to nurture my mental health.
3) Sleep in: Most of us are a little or a lot sleep deprived. We burn the candle at both ends and wonder why we are so tired all the time. Sunday mornings are my chance to catch a few more zzz's and start the day slowly.
4) Spiritual connection: Now that I'm post-church, connecting with God or universe or something bigger than me happens when I get outside and connect with our beautiful living world. We are blessed in Aotearoa to have a plethora of wild and pristine natural spaces on our doorstep, and the mauri - life force of these places is still strong.
5) Eat well: For our whānau, Sundays have always been about eating well in communion with others. Creating yummy dishes and feasting on seasonal bounties is one of the ways we connect, show love and fill our cups.
Maybe Monday is your Sunday.
The day of the week really does not matter, although there is something to be said for all sharing the same day of rest. After all, connecting with others is a huge part of our wellness.
Anyway, the point is, taking time to collectively step back from the frentic pace of modern life has always been woven into our cultural fabric, and has never been more important than now.
May you continue to carve out sacred pauses each weekend so that your body, mind and spirit are refreshed.
Mauri ora,
Laura
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