What Sabbath?

Evelyn had called last night to make arrangements for Jenna and her friend to meet at the gate instead of driving through onto her property.  Roland seemed weirded out as he asked why I would allow her to work on the Sabbath.  We’re in quarantine.  As with so many others, I have lost track of the days.  Jenna has rather enjoyed not having to go to young women each week as she has little in common with the rest of the girls.  It’s usually a chore just being there as she often feels out of place.  I fully relate.  I didn’t feel like I ever fit in with the young women either – not as a youth.  Certainly not as a leader.

Each individual has his or her own interpretation of what accounts for keeping the Sabbath day holy. For me, it is making an effort to make it more special than any other day.  When I was a youth, it was playing games with family, visiting grandma, taking Sunday drives on occasion.

Wonderful World of Disney was on NBC at the time and sometimes we would sit down and watch a wholesome movie as a family.  I may not have appreciated the value in setting the day apart from any other.  I have appreciated it more as an adult and wish to make it a day that sets apart all others.  I have not mastered that however.

Roland would often come home from his meetings, turn on the tv and watch the same programs that he is accustomed to watching all week.  I took a tv fast and refused to watch on Sunday for over a month.  I would not watch it at all, but it’s there.  I like watching a good movie once in a while.  I get tired of what Roland likes – not that we’ve ever agreed.

He always starts his morning with Sunday Morning on CBS.  Though I have found some of the stories interesting, watching Sunday Morning was never a part of my routine. Sunday Morning doesn’t need to be viewed on Sunday morning.  There are several options available to view it later.  Especially since so much of the program lately is focused on what we already hear about on a daily basis: the coronavirus, the protests, the lootings, stupidity . . . Yes, that is how I would like to start out my Sabbath morning (Not).

I have already discussed this with Roland or have tried to.  Once again we are not communicating.  He seems to view paid labor as breaking the Sabbath but does not understand my explanation with the television. Jenna would not be going to work if we were back to normal meetings.  It’s hard to say when we will be able to have congregational meetings at all.

 When the pandemic first started Jenna and I spent each Sunday going through the scriptures and watching “Come Follow Me” programs – but that tapered off to each of us doing it by ourselves.  Roland has sat through a video a time or two, but overall, we haven’t done much for Sunday meetings as a family.  I remember being by myself on Easter and Mother’s Day, wanting to share my discoveries but did not receive the same enthusiasm with the other two that live in the same house.

The closest we came was last week when Kevin and Roland blessed and passed the Sacrament and then going to the Sacred Grove.  But even with that our day ended with making others work as we ended our outing at a Burger King with four of us wearing paper crowns.  Should have had Roland take a picture of us in our crowns.  Too late now.

We have been told that when we return that there will only be one meeting.  We will be spaced out on the pews (which we pretty much have been anyway) and will wear masks and not be singing.  If that’s what it is, I don’t think I will even want to go. I will be in tears every week and I will be getting my mask wet with tears and snot.  It will be hard to be there and not be able to embrace or sing. 

I will continue with my vacation log tomorrow through Wednesday. Take care everybody.