Fall – sabătica

The year is gradually coming to a close. We’ve welcomed Fall, a time that invites us to slow down, to reflect and reset. However, as we all can attest, Fall brings on its own measure of hurriedness, striving and fatigue. Furthermore, in addition to this natural change of time and season, we find ourselves, unexpectedly, grappling with devastating world events that touch us to our core and which bring on another layer of emotional unrest.

We are standing at the precipice of a new year, a new start, hauling along the weight of emotional baggage from previous months, possibly previous years and certainly from today’s turmoils — longing for relief, for peace.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-30

I find solace in this translation of the Matthew passage, in Jesus’ invitation. He calls us into a space where we can bring our weariness, where we can enter as we are, without any agenda or tasks.

Jesus’ directives for living in the unforced rhythms of grace are simple and clear: get away with me, walk with me, work with me, watch how I do it, learn, keep company with me. Simply start by pulling away – for a few hours, a day, a weekend – making space for your truest self to safely emerge in His transforming and healing presence. He promises to keep it light, to show you how to live freely and to give you rest for your soul.

“If you don’t come apart for awhile, you will come apart after awhile.” —Dallas Willard

In His grace,
Christine

Click on image to find out more! — *Click on image for details*

Christine A. Dorvil is Founder and Director of Sabătica. She is a certified Contemplative Retreat Leader, trained for two years at the Shalem Institute of Spiritual Formation in Maryland. She also holds a certificate in Spiritual Transformation from the Transforming Center in Chicago where she studied and have been guided by Ruth Haley Barton. Christine is passionate about Contemplation, spiritual formation and life restoration. She desires to help others prioritize the care of their soul.

While driving on the Merritt/Route 15 the other day, I couldn’t help but be in awe of the beautiful tapestry that was all around me. The parkway was lined up with those tall, majestic, colorful trees – of different sizes, shapes and shades of green, yellow, red, orange. I couldn’t help but be grateful for such abundance of beauty and soul remedy — available to me, to us at the blink of an eye and free of charge or the need to wait in line. At some point, I wanted to stop the car, to stop time and stand still – to take it all in and to capture it in a picture. My heart was overtaken by God’s unmatched provision for our innate and deepest longing for beauty, peace and wonder.

Photo: MassDrive

I was reminded of King David’s amazement when he uttered, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands;” and of Paul who wrote, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…”

So friends, as you walk or drive around, be awakened to God’s marvelous gifts to you and which are all around. Turn every corner with a sense of wonder. Stop, pay attention to the little things. Take it all in. Allow the beautiful fall colors to tickle your soul and to remind you that life is now – in the whistle of the falling leaves, in the brisk morning air, in this very moment.

Sola gratia,
Christine