Daily Primer — May 26

"Technical civilization is man’s conquest of space.  It is a triumph frequently achieved by sacrificing an essential ingredient of existence, namely, Time.  In technical civilization, we expend time to gain space.  To enhance our power in the world of space is our main objective.  Yet to have more does not mean to be more.  The Power we attain in the world ends abruptly at the borderline of time.  Time is the heart of  existence."

"He who wants to enter into the holiness of the day must first lay down the profanity of clattering commerce, of being yoked to toil.  He must go away from the screech of dissonant days, from the nervousness and fury of acquisitiveness and the betrayal of embezzling his own life.  He must say farewell to (work) and learn to understand that the world has already been created and will survive without the help of man.  Six days a week we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the seed of eternity planted in the soul."

Florilegium is the Medieval Latin word for bouquet, or more literally flowers (flos, flor-) which are gathered (legere). The word florilegium was used to refer to a compilation of writings, often religious or philosophical. These florilegium are literary flowers—beautiful words/prayers/thoughts I have gathered.  During my sabbatical they will give me something to ponder each day. — PHL.

Lord of Sabbath-rest.  You are the God who both gave the gift of rest and modeled the discipline of sabbath-keeping when, on the 7th day of creation you chose to not go into the office.  In the prophets you urged us to simply be still and see your salvation: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength;” and again in the Psalmist poetry —
“It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil,
for he gives sleep to his beloved.”
Teach me, Lord, to be a good receiver of the gift of sabbatical rest.  Counsel me in the art of walking in your ways, and guide me with your eye upon me — that learning from you I may make the journey of life with my Lord whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.  May I rest in gentleness.  May I trust in the goodness of letting my work lie fallow for a season.  As I set aside normal duties, may I learn from Heschel to “care for the seed of eternity planted in [my] soul.”  Amen.

God, bless to me this day,
God, bless to me this night;
Bless, O Bless, Thou God of grace,
Each day and hour of my life;
Bless, Oh Bless, Thou God of grace,
Each day and hour of my life.

God, bless the pathway on which I go,
God, bless the earth that is beneath my sole;
Bless, O God, and give to me Thy love,
O God of gods, bless my rest and repose;
Bless, O God, and give to me Thy love,
And bless, O God of gods, my repose.