“The mind that comes to rest is tended<\/p>\n
In some ways that it cannot intend<\/p>\n
Is born, preserved, and comprehended<\/p>\n
By what it cannot comprehend.”<\/p>\n
~ Wendell Berry, from 1979 in <\/em>This Day<\/p>\n I appreciated very much reading through this volume of illuminaire on leadership. Hutchinson and her contributors have woven together a wonderful tapestry of thoughts on leadership. Each article resonated with me for particular reasons and I appreciated the approach of an integrated leader and their sense of connected self in mind, body and heart. This integration is important in sustainable leadership and something that I am keenly interested in both in my own studies (hence, a doctoral leadership program) my NPO on Sabbath keeping and its necessity in an \u201coverloaded\u201d society, and finally, as a dean and professor at a pastoral leadership seminary. I\u2019m looking forward to hearing from Hutchinson next week.<\/p>\n For the purpose of this blog post, I\u2019d like to focus in on Hutchinson\u2019s reflection on Margin, and how the practice of keeping a weekly Sabbath can contribute to the reduction of load, which increases Margin. Hutchinson draws from Richard Swenson\u2019s formula, \u201cMargin=Power-Load.\u201d While many of us are here in the program to increase our \u201cpower\u201d to grow in our knowledge and wisdom in leadership, I would argue that the development of power is a slower and more laborious task than the reduction of load. While reduction of load is a challenge in our overloaded world, the practice of a weekly time to stop, rest and let go of the need for production and progress can be a significant support to the creation of margin in a leader\u2019s life, which will lead to a healthy, sustainable leader.<\/p>\n Sabbath increases margin and works against the addiction and illusion of progress in three primary ways:<\/p>\n Sabbath reminds us that we are finite, human beings, and God loves us that way<\/strong><\/p>\n Ironically, as I\u2019m writing this blog post, my three year old daughter is home sick and is watching Alice in Wonderland. The rabbit is running around frantically proclaiming that, \u201che\u2019s late, he\u2019s late, for a very important date.\u201d Most of us frantically fly through our days trying to maximize as much productivity from the day, to be efficient and crash at the end of the day with no energy and a longer to do list for the following day. Sabbath, instead, invites us to stop and embrace the gift of limits. To remember that our worth is not in what we\u2019ve done or accomplished that week, but in the reality that we are beloved children of God. As God’s people prepared to enter the promised land, Moses proclaimed the 10 commandments to them again. The 4th commandment, to keep the Sabbath, is given to remind them in Deut. 5:15, “that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord\u00a0your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand\u00a0and an outstretched arm.\u00a0Therefore the\u00a0Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.” God desires to be with us\u2014not our accomplishments or achievements, but us<\/em>. The practice of Sabbath as a weekly discipline sets us free from the “bondage and baggage that breaks us.”When we stop from our work, we remember that we are not enslaved to our work, but have instead been set free by God to participate in our work and our rest with Him. God\u2019s ultimate desire is to be with us: human, finite, limited us and He created the Sabbath as a gift to rest and remember that we are free to belong to Him.<\/p>\n Sabbath reminds us that we are not in control of the things we try to control<\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps one of the hardest, and most important reasons, to practice Sabbath is because it reminds us that we are not in control. We spend most of our week slowly developing the illusion that we are the ones that are ultimately responsible for our families, our jobs, our bank accounts, our faith and this feedback loop of production and performance can give us the sense that we are ultimately in control of the things that we are not in control of. This anxiety of control is brought to the surface when we stop and let go of the things we\u2019ve tried to manage all week long and entrust them into the hands of the others, and ultimately in the hands of God.<\/p>\n Sabbath reminds us what matters most is relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n However, if we can find our way into a regular rhythm of Sabbath and letting go of the need to push beyond our God-given limits and need to control the things and people in our lives a beautiful space can open up before us where we are reminded that life really is about relationships. Relationships, in their proper place, bring life through giving and receiving. Sabbath reminds us that we are limited and we are human, but we are loved and accepted as well. When we stop and rest, it creates margin for connection and relationship with God and others. Enjoying the richness of silence or contemplation in God\u2019s creation or laughs and lingering conversation at a table with friends are gifts that the Sabbath longs to give to us if we will slow down and embrace it.<\/p>\n In conclusion, Sabbath would be a primary spiritual discipline and gift of time for reducing our load as leaders, increasing our power and thus creating more margin in our lives, which will make us not only better leaders, but better human beings.<\/p>\n I want to leave you with a wonderful prayer to welcome the Sabbath in your own life from\u00a0The Book of Common Prayer for Ordinary Radicals:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Lord of Creation, Lord of Liberation Lord of Resurrection, To our packed-full planners, we bid, \u201cPeace!\u201d Drowning in a sea of deadlines and death chimes, In the name of our Creator, our Liberator our Resurrection and life we pray. Amen<\/p>\n __________________________ \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “The mind that comes to rest is tended In some ways that it cannot intend Is born, preserved, and comprehended By what it cannot comprehend.” ~ Wendell Berry, from 1979 in This Day I appreciated very much reading through this volume of illuminaire on leadership. 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\ncreate in us a new rhythm of life
\ncomposed of hours that sustain rather than stress,
\nof days that deliver rather than destroy,
\nof time that trickles rather than tackles.<\/p>\n
\nBy the rhythm of your truth, set us free
\nfrom the bondage and baggage that break us,
\nfrom the Pharaohs and fellows who fail us,
\nfrom the plans and pursuits that prey upon us.<\/p>\n
\nMay we be raised into the rhythm of your new life,
\ndead to deceitful calendars,
\ndead to fleeting friend requests,
\ndead to the empty peace of our accomplishments.<\/p>\n
\nTo our over-caffeinated consciences, we say, \u201cCease!\u201d
\nTo our suffocating selves, Lord grant release.<\/p>\n
\nwe rest in you our lifeline
\nBy your ever-restful grace,
\nallow us to enter your Sabbath rest
\nas your Sabbath rest enters into us.<\/p>\n
\nFrom Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals<\/p>\n