First a rant: I’ve written before about the driving quirks of the various places where we have lived. In Idaho, it was wandering from lanes, including crossing the center line on narrow roads. In South Dakota it was running red lights. We always had to use extra caution there because of the tendency of people to push not only the yellow light, but to actually run red lights. When the light changed at an intersection, we frequently had to yield to someone who had clearly entered the intersection on the red light. Here in Washington it is passing on the solid yellow line. I haven’t observed this statewide. Perhaps it is just a quirk of Whatcom County. Whatever the case, it is dangerous and way too frequent. At least once a week I get passed while driving at or slightly above the speed limit while driving on country roads around here, and it is common for that to be when there is insufficient visibility to see oncoming traffic. The law is very clear about crossing a double yellow line to pass It is illegal. But that doesn’t stop a lot of drivers around here.

Saturday evening we were walking alongside a stretch of city street that does not have a sidewalk. We were walking facing traffic and single file so we could stay outside of the white line marking the edge of the street. Suddenly a car approached us from behind and came close enough to startle both of us. It was on our side of the street because it was passing a golf cart also coming from behind us. To be clear, our community is a “golf carts allowed” zone. The speed limit is 25 mph. Most golf carts go nearly 25 mph. Where this incident occurred, the golf cart was going down a hill with a curve at the bottom. It was a summer weekend, when there is plenty of traffic in town. The car that came close to us was going at least 35 mph, perhaps more. I’m sure it missed us by more than a foot, but it seemed closer to us. There is no way that passing the golf cart could have saved them any appreciable amount of time. They were headed into a busy, beachside street where there was plenty of other traffic. I can’t imagine what people like that are thinking.

End of rant. We are uninjured. The folks in the golf cart are safe. The people in the offending car are also safe as far as we know. Furthermore, I’m feeling way too much gratitude to get hung up on my rant.

For most of the past 50 years we have been pastors. Sunday was a work day for us. I had studied the scriptures, including the commandment about honoring the sabbath. We were careful to take a day off each week with a few exceptions when the needs of the community demanded otherwise. If there was a crisis or a funeral or a particular reason I would occasionally go a week without a day off, but I know the reason for sabbath and I understood the idolatry of thinking that I didn’t need a day of rest.

But there is something delightful and wonderful about a Sunday when we are retired. We had a leisurely start to our day yesterday. I lingered over a very good book in the morning before I showered and dressed. There was time for a bit more reading before time to leave for church. We were attending a congregation that meets close to our home, so we didn’t need to leave until 15 or 20 minutes before the start of worship. It was a beautiful day and the windows were open in the sanctuary. A chorus of seagulls could be heard outside. We had no duties. We simply sat in the pews, visited with other worshippers, worshipped including receiving communion, and went downstairs for coffee hour and more visiting. It was a typical small congregation, with about 25 in the sanctuary and another dozen online. The adult daughter of the pianist was visiting from out of town, but was given the role of leading the hymn singing. She grew up in the church and was comfortable with the task.

After worship we visited with the hymn leader and discovered that she now lives in Japan. She went to Japan as a college exchange student and returned after graduation. She met her husband and decided to stay. They have two children who are now grown. She is visiting her mother and the rest of her family will join her before she flies back to Japan. We had a Japanese exchange student live with us for a year and our children both participated in short 10-day student exchanges. We visited Japan twice in recent years, so we had a lot in common and a lot about which to visit.

Next we walked down to view the Spirit of Washington, a replica tall sailing ship that is used as a teaching platform. The ship was in town for the annual harbor festival, celebrating the local fishing industry with activities and vendor stalls. We wandered through booths selling handicrafts before having fresh fried oysters for lunch. There is an oyster farm in the bay and they have a wonderful cafe where had not before eaten. The cafe has a harbor front outdoor dining area where the sea breeze and shade made a great place to eat.

After our late lunch, there was plenty of time left in our day to take a nap, wander over to the farm and look at the bees, visit with our Daughter and grandson over Skype, sort through a few items we brought home from my mother’s place when we sold it last spring, have a light supper and take a longer than usual walk along the beach. We were treated to very comfortable weather for a stroll and a beautiful sunset.

Sabbath indeed restores our spirit. I am filled with gratitude.