A World Without Clocks — Is Sabbath Possible in This Modern Age?

A World Without Clocks — Is Sabbath Possible in This Modern Age? January 7, 2013

As I sit at the kitchen bar typing this, I am surrounded by reminders of time. A blinking clock on the DVD player, a clock in the corner of my computer screen, one blinking on the coffee maker, one on on the oven, another on the microwave and one on the wall. 


And I wonder . . . What would my life be without clocks? Would I handle my time wisely? Would I fritter it away? 

Some of this world without clocks would be simply taking time to do nothing. No big hand running around in circles, hounding me to do just one more thing.

What if I weren’t in such a hurry?


There is a need in my life for programmed rest — taking time away from electronics, shopping, cleaning and work. The phone needs to be laid down, since it’s smartness is quickly making me dumb. 

How about a day with absolutely nothing planned?

God had a similar idea. He called it, “the Sabbath.”


The concept, institutionalized in the 10th commandment, was that one day of the week would be given to family, rest and worship. No fields could be worked. No horses could be saddled. Even women running households were given a day of rest.


In our modern world, the mere idea of planned rest comes across as a quaint and even unreasonable concept. The earlier colonialists subscribed to the concept of rest and established “Blue Laws,” restricting certain business and leisure activities on Sundays. Even today, in many states, you cannot sell a car or buy liquor on Sunday. Various Sabbath prohibitions exist around the world.


By practice, many businesses close on Sunday. Whether they recognize the need to follow God’s imperative to rest is probably in doubt, but they still recognize the law written on their hearts to have a rest. In the Supreme Court Case, McGowan vs. Maryland, the court let stand Blue Laws, because they promote the values of “health, safety, recreation, and general well-being” through a common day of rest.


One of the last bastions of societal Sabbath is found in Bergen County, NJ. Nearly every retail establishment is closed on Sundays. Yet, the Paramus district within the County has more sales than any other ZIP Code in the United States. Obviously, taking a day off doesn’t hurt the bottom line.


And the Chick-Fil-A fast-food chain famously closes on Sundays. Their locations are darkened on Sundays, yet they are still beacons of light to the world. They have honored God through this since 1946. And the company still makes plenty of money, with more than $2 billion in sales.

My goal is to begin to find the love of Sabbath again, to see if it improves my relationships, deepens my faith.

Admittedly, I don’t do well in this area. There is always an article to write, a book to plan, a class to teach, a friend to call, a letter to pen. Every time God says, “chill,” I ignore Him.

I have much to learn.


What about you?
Please, share with a friend if you feel moved.
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