I’ve always been taught to keep the Sabath Day holy. You would think that this would have been hardest when I was a teenager and wanting to be off doing who knows what with friends. But it is actually hardest now. I just have so much to do around my house and there never seems to be enough time to do it. (If you don’t feel this way please tell me your secret!) But I really do realize how wonderful it is to have a day set aside to rest and not worry about how messy my front room is, and all the erands I need to run, and the yard that needs to be kept up, etc. Sundays help me focus on the things that are most important–and in my opinion those things aren’t really things at all.
As I was reading through some blogs today I found a great post on decor8 . I love her new perspective on the Sabath. She just moved to Germany and is experiencing the culture there for the first time. This is what she has to say about Sundays:
Another interesting cultural difference is that on Sunday everything is closed with the exception of a few kiosks and select drug stores. A few (very few) bakeries are open in the early morning, and the cafe in the nearby forest is open (we have cappuccino there after our Sunday morning walk each week), but none of the shops are open, grocery stores are closed, even IKEA is closed. Instead of shopping, Germans play with their children, go to the many parks and gardens here, visit museums, emerge themselves in cultural and sporting activities. At first it was weird for me to adjust to this. No shopping on Sunday? Are these people insane?
Then I thought about it. It’s starting to grow on me.
I thought about how back in America my husband and I do our “Target Run” on Sunday. Then I thought about how sad it is that we never slow down at home and always have our minds on running errands. Why? Because we CAN. When you cannot shop, you are forced to do something with your time, something more meaningful. On Sundays here in Germany, we go hiking, visit family, and usually go for dinner at our favorite Greek restaurant or we stay in and cook a special Sunday dinner. I know the U.S. economy depends heavily on commerce, but if Americans vowed to take Sunday off and stay out of stores and just spend time with their families and friends outdoors or pursuing something more cultural I think it would greatly increase joy and the quality of life. In just 3.5 weeks here, I’m already more joyous. I feel less stressed, have more patience, and feel very connected again with nature and more in touch with my own feelings and goals. I feel more creative than ever.
Tags: Very Interesting by Tricia
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