My Imminent Sabbath

Sabbath is an ancient concept. Whether you belong to a religious community of faith or not, I think all people relate to the notion of rest and renewal. The Fourth of the Ten Commandments commands us to remember or observe the Sabbath and to keep it holy. I admit that I have had a life long struggle with keeping and observing the Sabbath. I have yet to learn what it means, truly, to enter into the rest and the shalom that Sabbath time promises. The times that I have had a glimpse of it, a taste of it, leaves me wanting more.

This year I am blessed to receive a "Sabbatical Grant for Pastoral Leaders" that will allow me to take an eight week Sabbath. I will have time to rest, renew, reconnect with friends and rediscover places and faces that have been part of my life journey. I will leave on Saturday, October 30th for a month's stay in Argentina, where I lived and served from 1978 to 1986. I look forward to connecting with old friends. I will have a chance to visit churches I served as Pastor and to visit the beautiful cities of Buenos Aires, Rosario, Mendoza, and Pinamar. My wife, Tammie, and several friends will join me in Argentina about ten days into my stay.

While on this Sabbath Journey, I intend to write regularly on this blog. I invite comments, reflections and sharings as I explore more deeply the meaning of the menuha, the deeply embraced spiritual rest that is the essence of Sabbath.

My Imminent Sabbath

Sabbath is an ancient concept. Whether you belong to a religious community of faith or not, I think all people relate to the notion of rest and renewal. The Fourth of the Ten Commandments commands us to remember or observe the Sabbath and to keep it holy. I admit that I have had a life long struggle with keeping and observing the Sabbath. I have yet to learn what it means, truly, to enter into the rest and the shalom that Sabbath time promises. The times that I have had a glimpse of it, a taste of it, leaves me wanting more.

This year I am blessed to receive a "Sabbatical Grant for Pastoral Leaders" that will allow me to take an eight week Sabbath. I will have time to rest, renew, reconnect with friends and rediscover places and faces that have been part of my life journey. I will leave on Saturday, October 30th for a month's stay in Argentina, where I lived and served from 1978 to 1986. I look forward to connecting with old friends. I will have a chance to visit churches I served as Pastor and to visit the beautiful cities of Buenos Aires, Rosario, Mendoza, and Pinamar. My wife, Tammie, and several friends will join me in Argentina about ten days into my stay.

While on this Sabbath Journey, I intend to write regularly on this blog. I invite comments, reflections and sharings as I explore more deeply the meaning of the menuha, the deeply embraced spiritual rest that is the essence of Sabbath.

Ralph: You would have loved the Al Di Meola concert last night

You would have loved the Al Di Meola concert, Ralph. His group played at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. It was part of his tour called, "World Sinfonia."

Taylor Eigsti opened for Al. He's an extraordinary pianist. I thought of you when he debuted a newly discovered John Coltrane piece. He had gotten permission to play from Coltrane's son, Ravi. The piece brought me back to Coltrane's "A Love Supreme," which you introduced me to so many years ago. Eigsti's fingers danced on the grand piano keyboard. I loved it. I remember how you would be so caught up in such musical genius that you would leap from your seat. You would have leapt last night not only for Eigsti's virtuoso piano playing but for Al's guitar work.

If Taylor Eigsti's fingers dance on the keyboard, Al Di Meola's surely dance on the neck of his guitar, whether acoustic or electric. Al surrounded himself with great musicians from Italy, Cuba. Fausto Beccalossi played accordion. Among the many pieces were one from Astor Piazzola whom he attributed as a great influence over the past 20 years. Piazzola was Argentine and perhaps the greatest Tango composer of the 20th century.

Al paid tribute to his guitar teacher from Bergenfield, NJ where he grew up. The audience gave the teacher a standing ovation. You would have loved it.

Ralph: You would have loved the Al Di Meola concert last night

You would have loved the Al Di Meola concert, Ralph. His group played at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. It was part of his tour called, "World Sinfonia."

Taylor Eigsti opened for Al. He's an extraordinary pianist. I thought of you when he debuted a newly discovered John Coltrane piece. He had gotten permission to play from Coltrane's son, Ravi. The piece brought me back to Coltrane's "A Love Supreme," which you introduced me to so many years ago. Eigsti's fingers danced on the grand piano keyboard. I loved it. I remember how you would be so caught up in such musical genius that you would leap from your seat. You would have leapt last night not only for Eigsti's virtuoso piano playing but for Al's guitar work.

If Taylor Eigsti's fingers dance on the keyboard, Al Di Meola's surely dance on the neck of his guitar, whether acoustic or electric. Al surrounded himself with great musicians from Italy, Cuba. Fausto Beccalossi played accordion. Among the many pieces were one from Astor Piazzola whom he attributed as a great influence over the past 20 years. Piazzola was Argentine and perhaps the greatest Tango composer of the 20th century.

Al paid tribute to his guitar teacher from Bergenfield, NJ where he grew up. The audience gave the teacher a standing ovation. You would have loved it.

A Tribute to a Friend: Robert Jay Kaufman

A week ago yesterday (Friday, January 15, 2010), I spoke at the memorial service for my dear, life-long, friend, Robert Jay Kaufman, who died on January 8th at the age of 58. I concluded my remarks with the following verses.

This soul friend

This friend of the soul

One with whom years could go by

And yet with one call,

One hint of a conversation

Pick up as if we had talked

Yesterday afternoon.

Trust

Belief in one another

Unafraid to disagree

or challenge

or encourage

Proud to be a friend

This soul friend

This friend of the soul

Conversations

rich, open conversations

on a train from Chatham to New York

at 12 years old

or at Yankee Stadium celebrating the day

they held for the Mick

or listening to the James Cotton Blues Band

on the campus of Tufts University

Driving from Florida to New Jersey

in the parent’s new Mercedes

Seeing Man of La Mancha from the upper, rear balcony.

What wonderful conversations with this soul friend

This friend of the soul

Few things last a lifetime

when they do

it is a gift

I am so thankful,

so grateful

for

This soul friend

This friend of the soul

This gift.

Thank you, Rob

A Tribute to a Friend: Robert Jay Kaufman

A week ago yesterday (Friday, January 15, 2010), I spoke at the memorial service for my dear, life-long, friend, Robert Jay Kaufman, who died on January 8th at the age of 58. I concluded my remarks with the following verses.

This soul friend

This friend of the soul

One with whom years could go by

And yet with one call,

One hint of a conversation

Pick up as if we had talked

Yesterday afternoon.

Trust

Belief in one another

Unafraid to disagree

or challenge

or encourage

Proud to be a friend

This soul friend

This friend of the soul

Conversations

rich, open conversations

on a train from Chatham to New York

at 12 years old

or at Yankee Stadium celebrating the day

they held for the Mick

or listening to the James Cotton Blues Band

on the campus of Tufts University

Driving from Florida to New Jersey

in the parent’s new Mercedes

Seeing Man of La Mancha from the upper, rear balcony.

What wonderful conversations with this soul friend

This friend of the soul

Few things last a lifetime

when they do

it is a gift

I am so thankful,

so grateful

for

This soul friend

This friend of the soul

This gift.

Thank you, Rob