I Wish I Had Time For That

A Reflection for Monday, March 31 by Rev. Joy Fishler

Lectionary reading for 3/31/2025: Psalm 53; Leviticus 23:26-41; Revelation 19:1-8 

Selected Passage for Reflection: Leviticus 23:26-41

Read 

Leviticus 23:26-41

26 The Lord said to Moses, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord. 28 Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. 29 Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. 30 I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. 31 You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32 It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.” 

33 The Lord said to Moses, 34 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36 For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work. 37 (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38 These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.) 39 “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. 40 On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 

Reflect

Is there a place you go that makes your heart come alive? Is it a hike on a mountain or your feet in the sand? There is a beach town in Northern California I love more than any other place I’ve ever been. When my car makes that final turn and I catch a glimpse of the ocean, my heart leaps. Once a year I schedule a 24 hour “solo” at this very place. I walk the beach, pray, worship and rest in the presence of God. I read Scripture. My eyes and my heart lean into Jesus, only Jesus. I eat fresh fish tacos or crab that was sold at the docks. It is a day where my body, heart and mind are refreshed because I’m centered around the one thing, Jesus. This has been a rhythm in my life for over twenty years. If I don’t schedule this day months in advance, this day wouldn’t happen. Do you know why? There is never a good time to go. Not only that, it’s a day I have to protect and sometimes fight for. Year over year, something undoubtedly important comes up and I have to say no to the good so that I can say yes to the best.

My calendar tells me who, what, where and when. If something doesn’t make it onto the calendar, it probably doesn’t happen. If I don’t put the kid’s schedule on there the chances are pretty high that I will forget. My calendar is basically the boss of me and I like it that way. More than that, at the beginning of each year I ask the pastoral staff team to give me all the dates for all things ministry and I create one master calendar. It doesn’t mean we don’t tweak it as we go or add and subtract things but it creates a rhythm which keeps us unified and on point. 

However, the calendar doesn’t just tell me what I need to do, but it tells me what I get to do because if I don’t put it on the calendar, it probably isn’t going to happen. Again, there probably isn’t time for that. After I read this passage in Leviticus I thought to myself, “God just put items on their calendar.” He says each year I want you to be refreshed. I want you to bring what is crushing you, I want to give you freedom and rest. These are good and healthy rhythms that I am giving you to abide in. Mark your calendars, do this on this day and then do that. God gets that if it isn’t scheduled, it probably isn’t happening and it’s too important not to happen. It’s necessary. 

Respond 

These yearly festivals brought life and healing to the people of God. Sabbaths were not optional. God designed us to need them, to need Him. Sabbath wasn’t an invitation, it was a commandment. It still is. A day to be refreshed in Jesus. A day to let go of “shoulds” and a day to be or do what makes your heart come alive. It isn’t a day of what we shouldn’t do, but a day of what we get to do! It is a day meant for us, not us for the day (Mark 2:27). What does your calendar look like? Are there weekly items on your calendar that beckon rest and refreshment? Are there yearly scheduled dates that bring you to the feet of Jesus? Are there regular practices and times set aside for repentance and worship? If not, it might not be happening. What is on your calendar and do you need to make some adjustments? 

Rest 

Jesus, teach me how to live more like you. Forgive me for not honoring you with my time and energy. Forgive me for living like I don’t need rest, the kind of rest that only you can give. Would you teach me how to do that? I give you my calendar. I give you my heart. I give you my life. Have your way in and through me, in Jesus name.  

About the Author 

Rev. Joy Fishler

Joy Fishler is an Ordained Minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She currently resides with her family in the Sacramento Area and is the Pastor of Adult Ministry at Life Community Church. She loves Jesus, loves people and absolutely loves raising her teenage girls. She has a passion for preaching and leading people to the heart of the Father. She truly believes that there is nothing better than Jesus and following Him is the only life worth living. @joyfullyunfilteredandstuff