Day 05 - Soaking on the Sabbath

Marty warned us on the first day. He said he would start us off with a “fire hose of information." In truth, every day was a fire hose of so much good stuff - fascinating history, astonishing ruins, building mental images of life as a first century disciple, discovering connections between Old and New Testaments, between scripture and culture, and asking how this applies to life in the here and now. 

And yet as we drank so deeply, I was finding myself increasingly thirsty…for time to stop and process, to soak in all this goodness and let it seep all the way in to heart, soul, mind and body in a life-changing kind of way. And then Marty announced that this day would be a Sabbath. Hurrah!

We spent our day at a hotel and spa in the area of Pamukkale, a region famous for its thermal springs. As you might imagine, a free day to rest in the way each of us needed including some of the following: getting up early and enjoying a balloon ride, sleeping in, lingering over breakfast and lunch, fasting, shopping, napping, Turkish baths, doing laundry, office hours with Marty, quiet time and reflection, spending time with each other, and spending time with the Lord. 

Today as we soak in the warm, mineral pool at our hotel, may these lessons to date swirling within our hearts come and settle a little deeper within us. And then as we hop into the cold pool and experience that quickening of blood and breath, may we perceive the ways Jesus may be leading us to walk more like him. Thank you, Father, for Sabbath rest.

- Christine