Sa- (or) Holy Play, part II
Richard M. Wright
(The Sa- is going somewhere. Trust me.)
There is a theme – a theological theme that requires a change in how we live – that has been impressing itself upon my soul/awareness. Rest.
Three days in
Some of them addressed how. Mark Buchanan on “The Rest of God”. Lauren Winner was going to talk about “Sleep, Kids, and Technology” (my emphasis) but focused on understanding/reading/engaging our culture.
The back of our lab booklet listed the speakers and the many books they have written. Several of the books by the various lab speakers were on the subject of Sa-. Mark Buchanan. Eugene Peterson. Lauren Winner comes from a lapsed-Southern-Baptist/Orthodox-Jewish home and has written extensively on what the Christian movement needs to learn from Judaism. (Did you know Jesus was Jewish?)
Speaking of Cornell and of Orthodox Judaism… one of my best friends was Leah Rosenthal who lived in Young Israel House (a Jewish co-op). About once a month I walked all the way across campus to visit her. Usually on Friday night. Sometimes I watched/listened to Sa- prayers. We hanged out and talked. Then stayed for Sa- dinner.
What struck me was how Friday night there was an oasis of rest dare I say peace (shalom) in the ocean of intense academic stress that was life at Cornell. Sit and talk. Read. Leisurely meal with friends that ended with vast quantities of schnapps (which I skipped) and boisterous singing. Sleep. No phones or television! No work of any kind! Sometimes Leah and I went for a walk. (Once to visit a classmate from Genetics – an international who lived in a single room smaller than some walk-in closets.)
