Have you ever noticed that some of the greatest revelations in life can happen while doing some of the most ordinary, mundane things? My most recent case of this phenomenon happened one weekend ago during lunch with my husband at one of the best, most delicious restaurants ever: Chick-fil-A.
Over our grilled nuggets, fries, and Diet Coke, we marveled (as we do every time) not only about the delicious food, but also about the mass amounts of people that were eating all around us. We both commented that we have never been to a non-crowded Chick-fil-A, nor have we been to one with anything less than superb customer service.
These observations led to a deeper conversation on what Chick-fil-A must be doing correctly as a business to have such great success and the extraordinary service team it manages to obtain. We mentioned multiple theories before the topic of Chick-fil-A’s hours came up.
Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays. It always has been and if the strong stand of the current owners continues, it always will be. Despite the naysayers and the guaranteed millions of dollars Chick-fil-A would stand to gain with a change in policy (C’mon, admit it – how many Sundays have you wanted Chick-fil-A for lunch?!? For me — too many times to count. 🙂 ), they must have compelling reasons on the importance keeping Sunday sacred as a day off.
As we discussed the benefits of this oddity in the restaurant business, we couldn’t help but wonder if the excellence of the staff was related to knowing that a day of rest was coming. A day was set aside for them to recharge, reconnect, and refresh before another week began. They didn’t have to earn it, negotiate for it, or work overtime — it was there, always, every Sunday, every Sabbath.
I believe there are many wonderful reasons for why our God created the Sabbath — as Genesis 2:3 says, “Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Whether you celebrate Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday or if your job requires some weekend shifts and you celebrate it on a weekday, there is tremendous value in Sabbath, in a day of rest.
Sitting in Chick-fil-A that day, I felt challenged. Challenged to start truly pursuing my own Sabbath better this year. I believe Sabbath includes resting, relaxing, and spending time in quiet, with family, as well as resetting your focus for a new week. In this fast paced, social media driven, smart phone world — we are never truly disconnected unless we make great efforts to be.
I want to make the effort. I want to pursue Sabbath in my life.
You see, I made goals for this year, decided on a specific word to help guide my focus in 2016, yet both those things are meaningless if I don’t ever give my soul a rest. A reprieve. A chance to just be still.
Whether rest for you looks like a walk in nature, a Sunday afternoon nap, time curled up reading a book, brunch out with loved ones, or just ten minutes of sitting in the quiet of your room by yourself — find your Sabbath and pursue it.
Because if Chick-fil-A is any indication, there’s something very special about taking Sundays off.
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As a part of my Sabbath, I’m going to try to disconnect from social media on Sundays. I’ve read before about families putting all electronic devices in a basket Saturday night, only able to retrieve them Monday morning. I may not buy a basket, but I do think my soul would appreciate the quietness of just being. Without the input of Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
What do you think? What’s your Sabbath look like? I would love to hear in the comments!
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