Sabbath evening

Today's blogpost is based on the section entitled "Evening" from the chapter entitled "Sabbath Day" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".

The Sabbath evening is more than just a candle lit dinner. It is a time to be together to bless one another. It is sacred space shared with loved ones. Our dinner conversation should be more than talk about the weather. In that sacred space we can talk deeply about what matters and the goodness of God.

Have you ever experienced such a sacred space? I have. My church camp friends and I used to do it all the time. We would play a game called "What I love About You." We would go around the circle sharing what we loved about each person. It was more than just mining for compliments. It was a blessing of one another in profound ways. When I think of what an evening of Sabbath space looks like, this is what emerges as most important. Good food and wine and candle light -- yes, sure, let's have those things too. But, really, it's the gathering of spirits in sacred space to lift one another up and laugh -- that's what's most important here.

Have you ever had a dinner like this? Would you? Could you? Might you invite those closest to you over for such an evening? Could you risk letting those you love know it? Could you risk being that vulnerable? What would happen if you did? How would those you love be blessed by your words? How would you be blessed by sharing them?