As we head into spring (here in Georgia it’s really WARM!!) I find myself wanting to get out into the weather. A few days back I actually sprawled in the sun and ate a popsicle. And so today I’m planning a picnic dinner at the park. Nothing fancy—picking up some fried chicken and some yummy salads. A blanket. The dog.
Of course, it crossed my mind that tonight is Shabbat, and though I’m hardly a stickler for traditional Shabbat celebrations, it’s a really nice thing to set Friday night/Saturday aside for “special” time. So why not make a new tradition, when the weather is fine… why not try a Shabbat picnic?
There are a few reasons it makes good sense.
First, it’s easy—no dishes, no real cooking if you don’t want. So you can enjoy the holiday without the kitchen fuss, and observe the prohibition against work (in a loose sense).
Second, it gets you out in “God’s creation” where (especially if you’ve got kids) you can take note of the world around you in ways you might not always have time for. And that’s spiritual, right? Where better to meet the Sabbath bride?
Third, Shabbat begins at sunset. But even when we manage to celebrate Shabbat at my place, we rarely take note of the setting sun. A picnic is the perfect way to watch the sun set!
I realize that for me, with a toddler, this is especially true. My son is at an age where candles and sunsets and picnic blankets and ants are remarkable, and so it’s really pretty inspirational to watch him take it all in. But even without the kid… a bottle of wine, a prayer recited against a backdrop of birdsongs, a few votive candles set on a book, a good dinner… and a nice breeze in the sunset…
You can’t go wrong.
I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?