My husband and I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome a year and a half ago. During our time there, we were deeply moved by the easy rhythm of the culture. Was time more abundant on this side of the Atlantic? It certainly felt like it. When Sunday came around, most of the stores closed, families gathered together, and busyness just wasn’t an option. As we walked through our apartment building and smelt whiff after whiff of home cooked meals, bolognese and cacio pepe, we figured we were missing more than the food on the other side of the door—we really needed to live the Sabbath. Ultimately, we were inspired to take our Lord’s invitation seriously, and give Him back the Sabbath.
Learning from the Italians, coupled with a greater amount of free time and leisure with other graduate students, left us inspired to bring this back to the States. We had heard of a family who had opened their home every Friday for a potluck dinner to anyone in their neighborhood. We simply took someone else’s idea, moved it to Sunday, and decided to have a standing brunch at our apartment. Whomever was around was welcome to come and bring something to share or just come and hangout. This continued to be a gift for us and for our community as we learned to rest together.
It is certainly true that the Lord is never outdone in generosity and we began to notice a restfulness and rhythm of life that wasn’t present before. Some people only came once, some come every week, but learning to rest together is ultimately something that continues to be a gift for everyone. For us, it came down to hearing someone else’s idea, making a commitment every week, being consistent, and seeing what the Lord would do with it. What a gift the Sabbath is!
Cosden and Katie Leahy are happily married and living in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They enjoy spending time with family and friends, camping and the outdoors, and lots of cooking!