Sabbath Sense

"To my hard-working mother," the dedication reads, "who never forgot how to play." For Donna Schaper and her interfaith family, Sabbath is more than a day of the week: It's a state of mind. With compassionate wit, she de-thrones a work ethic that no longer works. She models de-cluttering. Cajoles readers to embrace all those "unfinished" aspects of their lives, to see past the clamor and urgency. For Schaper, wife and mother of three, and a "circuit rider" for over 100 churches, recapturing the sacredness of time begins with a simple commitment: to pause more often and immerse in the moment. Throughout the book Schaper's quotable prose delights with its snap and shine, yet readers will also relish its depth. Energetic and ecumenical, she engages responsibly with current issues. For the overworked and overwhelmed she urges a gentle return to rituals, the kind that beautifully interrupt one's headlong pace--with peace. "[P]ack your spiritual baggage," she says, "and move to the neighborhood called Enough--enough time, enough rest, enough play." A book this good could change the way you live.

This book is a down-to-earth and creative reflection on living in the awareness of the sacredness of time. It is written with an air of honest struggle. Schaper realizes the cultural forces that distract us and calls us to a new place. A great reminder!