When we keep a sabbath holy, we are practicing, for a day, the freedom that God intends for all people. We are practicing life outside the frantic pace set by financial markets and round-the-clock shopping and entertainment venues. We are practicing independence from the forces of injustice. We are trying on a new way of life as we begin to allow our weeks to be changed in response to God's promises. We are practicing--pun intended. Like a novice learning to play a musical instrument, we may be off-key at times. It may be years before we are in harmony, and we will never be perfect. But that need not stop us. Besides, stopping is less a problem than getting started.
(Dorothy C. Bass Receiving the Day: Christian Practices for Opening the Gift of Time)
