Whatever Happened to Sunday?

      It was 11:30 a.m. when I pulled out of the church parking lot. I was going to go home, have lunch, and relax, but didn't. My weekly "to-do" list had turned into a "not-nearly-done" list. So, instead of going home, I went shopping. Then, not finding what I needed, I had to drive to other stores to find the items on the list. I stopped for gas, then bought groceries. By the time I got home, I was exhausted. Somehow it didn't feel like Sunday.  
     Things were different when I was growing up. Sundays were reserved for going to church and spending time with the family. Most stores and businesses were closed, with the exception of a gas station or convenience mart. 
     Our family's tradition was to go on a Sunday drive after church. My father loved to drive, so we'd be on mountain passes or country roads for hours. The smell of my father's cigar wafted throughout the Station Wagon. Fortunately, my mother insisted that my father open the "draft" window on the driver's side (this was in the 1960's). Mom would make bologna sandwiches to take along. Sometimes we'd eat in the car; other times we'd pull over at a roadside picnic table.     
     If we happened to stay in town on a Sunday, we'd often visit my aunt and cousin, or my mother would invite friends to the house.         
     Whatever happened to Sundays? In much of our society, the reverence for this day has waned. In my community, most stores are open, with only very few of them closed. And family Sunday agendas? Far too commonly they are becoming like every other day of the week.       
     An important reminder about the Sabbath comes from the Bible. These instructions come from the fourth commandment, which can be found in Exodus 20:8-10, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God."
      The Sabbath, then (Sunday for Christians), is meant to be a day for rest and worship. 
      I attend worship services on Sundays; however, sometimes I find myself trying to catch up on work from the remainder of the week, and not resting. And by Sunday night, I'm wondering why I am so tired.      
      In our fast-paced world, if we don't take time away from work, we can become exhausted. And society does not tell us to rest--but this is what God is telling us to do.        
       I decided it was time to take my Sundays back. I want this to be a day that is different from every other day of the week, to make it the kind of day God intended it to be. 
      Perhaps God's design for the fourth commandment was also meant for our spiritual renewal? This is a refreshing thought, for when we are renewed spiritually, our mental and physical well-being is also enhanced.   
      I'm looking forward to what Sundays will bring, and with God's help, steering clear of those "to-do" lists--at least until the other days of the week. 
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      What are Sundays like for you? Feel free to comment--or share your own story!