By Christine MacIntyre
Regardless of religious beliefs, readers will likely recognize the word sabbath and what it stands for. In Ruth Haley Barton’s book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again, she addresses the sabbath and its significance. While her text comes from a place of religious belonging, the book can be just as easily applied to the lives of those unconnected to any particular religion or belief system. Barton introduces the benefits of practicing the concept as psychologically beneficial. She addresses the idea as one woven into Christian traditions while also considering the value to all individuals for health, sanity, and contentedness.
The concept of keeping the sabbath may seem daunting in an on-the-go society faced with the high “demands of relationships, family, work, school, church, childcare, shopping, health, appearance, housework, meals, bill payments, commuting, accidents, interruptions, illnesses, and countless other things eating up our time.” However, Barton notes throughout the text that allowing ourselves to live a busy lifestyle, never unplugging and clocking out, will lead to unfavorable consequences such as burnout, high blood pressure, and becoming unable to forgive, pray, and enjoy life.
Within part one, Barton provides insights about the origin of the sabbath and discusses how to gradually progress into a lifestyle that incorporates this practice. As a concept that runs deeper than a lifestyle suggestion, she describes sabbath as a practice in which the work has already been done for us—a space of rest, tranquility, peace, and happiness is already carved out, and all we must do is enter and participate. However, she warns that the ease of practicing sabbath doesn’t happen overnight as “we might experience the discomfort of discovering how addicted we are to human striving and hard work.” However, sabbath is intended for cleansing, restoration, reflection, and freedom. By observing sabbath, Barton says we learn to break patterns of resistance—“bondage to patterns of relentless productivity, never-enough consumerism, the constant stimulation of push notifications and connectivity that exacerbates stress, anxiety, and bitter controversies.”
Additionally, Barton posits that observing one day of rest opens the lines of communication with God. Reverting to her Christian-based approach to sabbath, she provides ample evidence for how the practice can deepen if we trust in God as both strength and provider rather than relying on what we can secure through constant striving.
Each chapter begins with a relevant quote or Biblical verse, such as the quote by Adele Calhoun in chapter two, which says, “If you aren’t resting, you are a slave to something.” These provide solid examples and reiteration of sabbath and its meaning and importance. Further, at the rear of each chapter is a page that is a tool for readers. For example, the headline says, “What your soul wants to say to God,” and the text within the page outlines questions to ask and reflect on after reading the chapter.
Barton built chapters based on main concepts such as Discovering Sabbath in Community, The Power of Unplugging, More Than a Vacation, and Setting Boundaries. Each one fuels the narrative, explaining the concept and practice of sabbath to readers and further defining the importance and how to incorporate it into their lives.
While part one focuses on sabbath, part two is titled Sabbatical. This half of the book is designed to inform readers about what happens when taking one day and observing sabbath on the seventh day, which is insufficient. Barton begins by illustrating how she came about her first sabbatical—a time in her life when she faced a financial crisis and tough decisions as the leader of an organization she founded and led. Her verbiage is intentional as she explains to readers how exhausted and battered, she felt during this time. The harsh realities of life, such as caring for aging and sick parents and their eventual passing, prevented her from taking sabbatical. However, she uses this story to lead into her explainer of simply moving forward with taking sabbatical out of necessity. “I am telling you this to alert you to the fact that sabbatical never comes easy; it will always need to be fought for.” As an added benefit to readers, she includes a sabbath worksheet in the appendix so readers can prepare for and plan their practice.
The text sufficiently sheds light on the need for a shared understanding of the concept of sabbatical. As such, Barton provides insights on facing the contradictory nature of the practice, even going as far as to acknowledge the lack of “resources to support and guide these longer seasons of rest and renewal.” Finally, she gives a brief synopsis of a book she found particularly helpful during this time, Sabbatical Journey by Henri Nouwen, describing how it benefited her.
Barton is keenly aware of the challenge of embedding sabbatical in secular settings, such as vocations that don’t allow for such a thing. She mentions the changes in corporate America as they now see “the benefit of giving executive leaders extended time away for a change of pace, new experiences that help them think new thoughts, an opportunity to assess where they are in their career, etc.” Nonetheless, she finds it essential to “claim the biblical nature of sabbatical as a deeply spiritual concept.”
Barton guides the reader planning for an extended sabbatical, establishing goals, and creating a space for hopes and dreams, including getting rest and replenishment, finding delight in simple things, and caring for and strengthening the body. Given the intentional nature of sabbatical—“a season of a different kind of intentionality toward rest and very personal needs, hopes, and desires that will be addressed specifically and concretely in one’s sabbatical plan.” And while the concept remains the same, Barton reassures readers that a plan will be unique to each person, tailored to personality types, needs, desires, what is going on in each life, and what God intends for each person.
An epilogue wraps the book up, summarizing human beings’ need for rest—rest for the mind, “a reprieve from the intensity of our thoughts and emotions, and replenishment of all that gets taken from us in our engagement with a very demanding world.” The closing arguments for sabbath and sabbatical are sure to resonate with most, if not all, readers, as life’s hustle and bustle are vibrant everywhere we turn. Each reader experiences pressures, whether from society, family, careers, or so much more. The book is a welcome invitation to practice something seemingly beneficial to everyone, regardless of beliefs or religious belonging.
Related Content:
Imagine a world where your children are captivated by bubbling potions, erupting volcanoes, and soaring rockets. In this magical realm, adventure awaits. From makeshift kitchen laboratories and hands-on classes to information-packed books, parents can ignite the spark or fuel the burning passion for science with various engaging and immersive activities—some at home, some in person. Unlocking the magic of science begins with nurturing your child’s natural curiosity. Observe what they're interested in and use it to pave the way for exciting career paths in the future.