Customer Reviews

Sabbath: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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Wayne Muller once again in Sabbath takes the mystery out of bringing spiritual practice to a busy, complicated life. How often do someone's writings actually help change one's thinking or actions? Muller has that gift. In Sabbath he provides a simple, profound series of suggestions on how to practice mindful rest in a hectic life or in relationships full of other priorities. My wife and I now literally schedule quiet dates for quiet time with each other. By drawing from the rich Judeo-Christian and Eastern traditions of spiritual replenishment, Wayne Muller makes a telling case for the practice of Sabbath. But most importantly, he closes chapters with simple suggestions on how to bring this practice into your life. It is both a moving spiritual lesson and a how-to guide. It is certainly a terrific gift for your too busy friends.

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It sinks into your soul and permeates the fibers of work, rush and chaos to calm, quiet and challenge how we live. My book club has read it, and loved it as much as I did. As one of the woman said, "I couldn't get past the first six pages. I would read it out loud to anyone who would listen to me". Each person has ordered at least 3 copies of it to give to friends and relatives. No other book has spoken to me in so many ways. As a youth minister I have read quotations to my kids to hopefully get them to understand the idea of Sabbath before they get to my age and have their life patterns set. I could never come up with enough adjectives to describe this wonderful book.

This book has helped change my life and my focus from workaholicism back to joy of living and family, from exhaustion and fatigue to faith in restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest. As other reviewers have mentioned, Wayne Muller's writing also stirred my soul and restarted the sacred rhythm set within. I have read many parts of this books aloud to my family, and have given copies to family and friends. All have received it with enthusiam. Some parts brought tears to my eyes as Muller's words flow gently on target in each chapter, and I felt the grief and relief that comes from knowing the truth (and it does set you free). This book is well written, easy to read, and should appeal to people of many faiths. It is a simple, but yet profound book. Made so, because the author is a skilled writer in reaching across the diverse realm of the manmade world to point out the conflicts modern men and women have created at many levels; conflicts which block out or otherwise have many of us unaware of the true value of Sabbath and the sacred rhythms established by the Creator at all levels in all living things. This book will engage you with well chosen quotes, poems, and well written thoughts on the Sabbath. This is a must read!

Sabbath was a breath of fresh air and came just at the right time in my life! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about living life fuller, more thoughtfully, and at a more enjoyable pace. Wayne Muller has written a book full of wisdom -- a timely counterbalance to our culture of busyness and success measured by dollars. This book will reawaken your desire to spend more time with loved ones, friends, yourself and will give you ideas on how and why you should.

In a culture marked by workaholism and exhaustion, Wayne Muller has offered a healing and inspiring word. Having searched the wisdom of many spiritual traditions, Muller offers a thoughtful and compelling invitation to reclaim the practice of Sabbath-keeping in ways that honor the rhythm of creation and are not just legalistic rule-keeping. Muller offers practical helps for recovering the rhythm of life, as well as making connections with the theological understandings of several religious traditions. His book will be a welcome companion for all who are seeking more balance in their lives, and would be a good choice for study groups in churches or spiritual life groups.

I read this slowly, picking it up now and then, going through one brief
chapter at a time. I always found a smile on my face and a bit of
wisdom in my soul. This is an eloquent, poetic book that I would
highly recommend.

Muller starts with some history of what the Sabbath
has meant in the Jewish and Christian religions and how it has been
practiced through the centuries. But this is not dogmatic reading at
all. The author uses the word Sabbath as a metaphor for rest in our
lives - whether it's an actual day, morning ritual, or simply a few
moments alone during a busy day. He reminds us that there is a reason
that this Sabbath concept has been such a strong component of life in
our past, and warns us against the modern trend towards constant
activity.

Chapters are filled with personal experiences, stories of
others, poems, and suggestions for incorporating mindful rest into our
lives.

I look forward to rereading this numerous times in the future.

Without the hype of special retreats, expensive food or many miles of travel, this book leads you to achieveing peace in your own home by setting aside time to just BE.

A profound experience reading Muller's work. I am in recovery and activily pratisipate in the program Alcoholics Anonymous ergo I am anonymous and will not identify myself. I write and experience a lot of speritual moments in my writing. I was moved very deeply by the depth of the book and how the excercises when practiced brought the peace of a living God into my presence.

Being addicive in nature I am a workaholic as I found my true calling at the age of 45. I love what I do and am so enamored with it I work way beyond the physical limits of my aging body. This book and it's return to basic living paterns has resored my energy and awareness of the closeness of my Power Greater Than All. Now twenty odd years in a program that saved my life I have more, love more, give of myself more as a result. This book now has taken me back to the basics of caring for myself first.

I am renewed, refreshed and with the help of the reading herein, I am in a new place with more vigor to give of myself. I am greatful for the opportunity to share this.

Dr. Mueller's message in this book is literally life-saving as the cover says. A type-A friend of mine read this and he is now changing his life to include sabbath restoration time. I feel it will add years to his life.

This book is aimed at those of us who lead a "busy" life, always on the go, always feeling tired and hurried. I would especially recommend this book for clergy-- not as a resource for sermons, but as a resource for their own souls-- to prevent burnout.

The chapters are devotional, filled with anectodes, axioms and various stories. At the end of each chapter there are examples of how Dr Mueller and friends of his have put sabbath into practice. I found them very helpful.

Dr Mueller casts a wide net in search of understanding what sabbath is. He frequently references the aspect of "rest" in other faiths besides Judaism and Christianity. While I appreciate the inclusivity, sometimes the references are misleading or too superficial. For example, he often cites Buddhism and Buddhist practices, yet oversteps the message. Buddhism teaches that peace comes through letting go of one's ego or self, while Dr Mueller stresses reinforcing the self. I was also surprised that he glossed over the inventors of sabbath-- the ancient Babylonians-- with only one sentence. He also totally omits references to Wicca, a rapidly growing faith in America, which joyfully celebrates eight Sabbats annually.

Dr. Mueller's attempt to be inclusive fails mainly by borrowing from other faiths without recognizing nor honoring their distinctiveness. While this may not bother people who see all faiths as one and the same, it does unnerve those who practice these other faiths and demotes interfaith work rather than encouraging it.

Over all, this book is worth reading because of the powerful message it delivers about our need for intentional rest. It is a message for our time and for our culture in America. The book could have been stronger if there had been a more careful referencing of non-JudeoChristian faiths. With that caveat, I still recommend Dr Mueller's "Sabbath" for today's "busy" people.

This book is exactly what our current busy lives need. If we take the time to read it.