Izzy, waiting for me
October 31, 2009 – I was born and raised in a Jewish family, but Judaism never quite took for me. I converted to Quakerism when I was a teenager, and have since drifted, going to church much more often than any temple, but never quite landing anywhere. Faith is a puzzle for me, a personal as much as an institutional thing, and I am not sure I will ever quite resolve it.
One of the Jewish ideas that intrigued me was the Sabbath, a day of rest, a compelling break in always chaotic
and stressful lives. My quarrelsome family never observed this ritual, but it caught my imagination.
On the Sabbath, observant Jews stopped working, and spent the day with family and in contemplation. It seems this is an idea of special relevance in our hyper-kinetic lives. A friend contacted me recently and left a message that offered as many ways of contacting him – e-mail, cell, landline, Facebook, Twitter, blog – than the Pentagon. He seemed stressed. No wonder.
In an age of sometimes mindless connection, disconnection is important. Maria and I are taking a non-religious day of rest, starting this afternoon. We will stay off of e-mail, away from work, the phone, blogs and read, talk and rest.
I realized in the last few weeks that I am tired. I want to learn how to rest, be still, at peace.
The last year or so has been the most intense of my life, and as I break away from a lifetime of fear and manic energy, I am more intrigued than ever with the notion of rest, withdrawal, and contemplation. I have a bottle of red wine, some cheese from Vermont, fresh fish to cook, and three good books in urgent need of reading. And a wonderful person to share all of this with, and to talk.
I haven’t done anything like this in years, and I am not entirely sure I cannot do it. Can I stay off the blog? Away from photos I’m not sure about taking a break from photos), not write or research my books? I already avoid TV and radio pretty much, so that will not be a problem. I think it’s important. I’ll report tomorrow on how it goes.