"Sabbath Economics"
" ... Make my arts compatible with the songs of the local birds." - Wendell Berry
In one of his Sabbath poems,
Wendell Berry writes:
Teach me work that honors Thy work,
the true economies of goods and words,
to make my arts compatible
with the songs of the local birds.
Teach me patience beyond work
and, beyond patience, the blest
Sabbath of Thy unresting love
which lights all things and gives rest. (1)
Patience and stillness,
unresting love,
the remembrance of songs hiding in our hearts,
aching to burst forth.
These are the promises of the Sabbath.
By allowing ourselves the gift of slowing down,
living in a different way,
we unite our bodies and spirit,
we re-humanize ourselves.
We honor the very energy
holding together the interdependent web
of Creation.
Last week I talked about the practice of Sabbath as
entering into a “time out of time” -
relinquishing our usual responsibilities for some set duration.
The historic, Biblical commandment
to honor a different pattern in our lives,
one that includes a break from personal work,
feels strange in a culture in which
work becomes our habit,
or at times an addiction,
or for some, the primary way
we identify ourselves.
But the Biblical commandment goes even further than just saying no to work.
Both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures
call for - within the context of Sabbath time -
a radical re-negotiation of financial structures
to create a fair, just, and equitable system.
A “Sabbath Economy.”
Just as the word “Sabbath”
conjures up a time out of time
when we cease business as usual;
“Sabbath Economics”
provides a way to think differently
about the movement of
money and goods and energy.
Richard Lowery, a Hebrew bible scholar and activist, writes:
“Sabbath observance requires a leap of faith,
a firm confidence that the world will continue to operate benevolently
for a day without human labor,
that God is willing and able to provide enough
for the good life.
“Sabbath promises seven days of prosperity for six days of work.
It operates on the assumption that human life and prosperity
exceed human productivity.” (2)
At the heart of a Sabbath Economy lies a
“disruption of human attempts
to control nature and maximize production.” (3)
This goes against so much of what we see happening all around us.
We need only to take a walk by most southern California rivers
to be reminded of our human need to control the water flow
through concrete river beds.
We need only to take a walk through almost any neighborhood
to be reminded that our desire to control our landscape -
to sow lush, green east coast lawns -
has destroyed natural habitats
and local wildlife corridors.
We live in an age where employers expect to reach employees
at all hours - they will find you
through email, or text, or FB message.
We live in an age where we prioritize
large quantities of cheap goods
over fair pay and
respectful treatment of workers.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
We - you and I - we want to build a new way.
The belief that human life and prosperity exceed productivity
isn’t brand new to us.
We hear this echoed in the eco-feminist spirituality we study here.
It is the grounding of the Transition Town movement,
which inspired our Learning Garden.
We know we need to let go of business as usual
and build networks of local resiliency.
We know this,
but how do we go about it?
Second-wave feminism brought us the phrase,
“The personal is political.”
It highlights the connections between the actions
we take in our personal lives
and the larger political and social structures.
Sometimes those political and social structures seem insurmountable.
But they are not.
They were created by people.
They are maintained by people.
We ARE the people.
And our personal practice makes a difference.
Every single day we make small choices -
what to buy,
what to eat,
where to bank,
whether we walk or drive -
that all add up to participating
in the economy of the
dominant culture,
or building up
the Sabbath Economy.
Our values become crystal clear
when we analyze how we spend our money and our time.
Are we spending our money in ways that further
our deepest held values?
That further our seven UU principles?
Is our precious time given over
to pursuits that make our art and actions
compatible with
the song of life?
If you cannot say an absolute yes to that,
or if you feel like you always have room to grow,
I encourage you to analyze your personal practice
in the following seven areas:
- Giving
- Environment and Green Living
- Surplus Income
- Debt
- Simple Living
- Solidarity
- Work and Sabbath (4)
These particular indicators of how we contribute to an overall economy
were identified by a religious collective
trying to live more fully into the teachings of Jesus.
But it also works for those of us
looking to make our seven UU principles
more prominent in our everyday practice;
to piece together a living and working theology
that strives for an abundant life
for all beings.
Turning away from a consumer-driven lifestyle,
and toward an economy in which everyone thrives,
isn’t done by following a 10 point to-do list.
Once you reach 10 - you’ve reached the nirvana
of sustainable economic practice.
Rather, slowly and intentionally
shifting your spending and consuming habits in these areas
becomes a spiritual endeavor.
Acknowledging that there is enough in Creation -
enough for you, for me, for all of us.
Shifting the ways we utilize our money is hard.
I know. Truly.
I have work to do in all those areas,
and there have been times in my life when I have felt
so burdened by debt,
which then triggered an inability
to give generously,
or addiction to buying things
or over-work
that I didn’t know if I could
make it out
to the other side.
If you are in an overwhelming place with any of those seven areas I named,
please know that you are not alone.
I’m ready to reach out and walk with you,
as would many people in this congregation.
If we want to better meld our religious values
and our financial choices,
we have to be able to share our real struggles and disappointments,
as well as our joys and successes.
This conversation would be empowering,
and equip us to do even more good
in the world.
Some of us have talked about starting
a small group discussion on faith and money.
“Getting Real About Money”
or something like that.
Supporting each other one decision,
one step at a time,
inspiring,
teaching,
learning with one another.
Embracing Sabbath into our lives -
a “time out of time”
when we intentionally live a different way -
reminds us what Sabbath observance is all about:
the grace of receiving what Creation offers,
and the responsibility not to take too much,
nor to mistake the gift for a possession.
We are part and parcel of the interdependent web,
living, breathing,
giving, receiving,
expressing gratitude
for this life we share with one another.
Modah Ani
Notes
1. Berry, Wendell. This Day: Collected and New Sabbath Poems, p. 235
2. Meyers, Ched. The Biblical Vision of Sabbath Economics, p. 13.
3 .Ibid. p. 13.
4. Colwell, Matthew. Sabbath Economics: Household Practices.
Wendell Berry writes:
Teach me work that honors Thy work,
the true economies of goods and words,
to make my arts compatible
with the songs of the local birds.
Teach me patience beyond work
and, beyond patience, the blest
Sabbath of Thy unresting love
which lights all things and gives rest. (1)
Patience and stillness,
unresting love,
the remembrance of songs hiding in our hearts,
aching to burst forth.
These are the promises of the Sabbath.
By allowing ourselves the gift of slowing down,
living in a different way,
we unite our bodies and spirit,
we re-humanize ourselves.
We honor the very energy
holding together the interdependent web
of Creation.
Last week I talked about the practice of Sabbath as
entering into a “time out of time” -
relinquishing our usual responsibilities for some set duration.
The historic, Biblical commandment
to honor a different pattern in our lives,
one that includes a break from personal work,
feels strange in a culture in which
work becomes our habit,
or at times an addiction,
or for some, the primary way
we identify ourselves.
But the Biblical commandment goes even further than just saying no to work.
Both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures
call for - within the context of Sabbath time -
a radical re-negotiation of financial structures
to create a fair, just, and equitable system.
A “Sabbath Economy.”
Just as the word “Sabbath”
conjures up a time out of time
when we cease business as usual;
“Sabbath Economics”
provides a way to think differently
about the movement of
money and goods and energy.
Richard Lowery, a Hebrew bible scholar and activist, writes:
“Sabbath observance requires a leap of faith,
a firm confidence that the world will continue to operate benevolently
for a day without human labor,
that God is willing and able to provide enough
for the good life.
“Sabbath promises seven days of prosperity for six days of work.
It operates on the assumption that human life and prosperity
exceed human productivity.” (2)
At the heart of a Sabbath Economy lies a
“disruption of human attempts
to control nature and maximize production.” (3)
This goes against so much of what we see happening all around us.
We need only to take a walk by most southern California rivers
to be reminded of our human need to control the water flow
through concrete river beds.
We need only to take a walk through almost any neighborhood
to be reminded that our desire to control our landscape -
to sow lush, green east coast lawns -
has destroyed natural habitats
and local wildlife corridors.
We live in an age where employers expect to reach employees
at all hours - they will find you
through email, or text, or FB message.
We live in an age where we prioritize
large quantities of cheap goods
over fair pay and
respectful treatment of workers.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
We - you and I - we want to build a new way.
The belief that human life and prosperity exceed productivity
isn’t brand new to us.
We hear this echoed in the eco-feminist spirituality we study here.
It is the grounding of the Transition Town movement,
which inspired our Learning Garden.
We know we need to let go of business as usual
and build networks of local resiliency.
We know this,
but how do we go about it?
Second-wave feminism brought us the phrase,
“The personal is political.”
It highlights the connections between the actions
we take in our personal lives
and the larger political and social structures.
Sometimes those political and social structures seem insurmountable.
But they are not.
They were created by people.
They are maintained by people.
We ARE the people.
And our personal practice makes a difference.
Every single day we make small choices -
what to buy,
what to eat,
where to bank,
whether we walk or drive -
that all add up to participating
in the economy of the
dominant culture,
or building up
the Sabbath Economy.
Our values become crystal clear
when we analyze how we spend our money and our time.
Are we spending our money in ways that further
our deepest held values?
That further our seven UU principles?
Is our precious time given over
to pursuits that make our art and actions
compatible with
the song of life?
If you cannot say an absolute yes to that,
or if you feel like you always have room to grow,
I encourage you to analyze your personal practice
in the following seven areas:
- Giving
- Environment and Green Living
- Surplus Income
- Debt
- Simple Living
- Solidarity
- Work and Sabbath (4)
These particular indicators of how we contribute to an overall economy
were identified by a religious collective
trying to live more fully into the teachings of Jesus.
But it also works for those of us
looking to make our seven UU principles
more prominent in our everyday practice;
to piece together a living and working theology
that strives for an abundant life
for all beings.
Turning away from a consumer-driven lifestyle,
and toward an economy in which everyone thrives,
isn’t done by following a 10 point to-do list.
Once you reach 10 - you’ve reached the nirvana
of sustainable economic practice.
Rather, slowly and intentionally
shifting your spending and consuming habits in these areas
becomes a spiritual endeavor.
Acknowledging that there is enough in Creation -
enough for you, for me, for all of us.
Shifting the ways we utilize our money is hard.
I know. Truly.
I have work to do in all those areas,
and there have been times in my life when I have felt
so burdened by debt,
which then triggered an inability
to give generously,
or addiction to buying things
or over-work
that I didn’t know if I could
make it out
to the other side.
If you are in an overwhelming place with any of those seven areas I named,
please know that you are not alone.
I’m ready to reach out and walk with you,
as would many people in this congregation.
If we want to better meld our religious values
and our financial choices,
we have to be able to share our real struggles and disappointments,
as well as our joys and successes.
This conversation would be empowering,
and equip us to do even more good
in the world.
Some of us have talked about starting
a small group discussion on faith and money.
“Getting Real About Money”
or something like that.
Supporting each other one decision,
one step at a time,
inspiring,
teaching,
learning with one another.
Embracing Sabbath into our lives -
a “time out of time”
when we intentionally live a different way -
reminds us what Sabbath observance is all about:
the grace of receiving what Creation offers,
and the responsibility not to take too much,
nor to mistake the gift for a possession.
We are part and parcel of the interdependent web,
living, breathing,
giving, receiving,
expressing gratitude
for this life we share with one another.
Modah Ani
Notes
1. Berry, Wendell. This Day: Collected and New Sabbath Poems, p. 235
2. Meyers, Ched. The Biblical Vision of Sabbath Economics, p. 13.
3 .Ibid. p. 13.
4. Colwell, Matthew. Sabbath Economics: Household Practices.