Time for sun...down

I never thought the paper with its notorious third page would bring so much joy to my son (at age six!). This week The Sun joined forces with Lego, heralding a daily coupon within its pages for a free Lego figure. For a mere 30p a day I’ve become my son’s hero. ‘THANKS mum!’ he said with a huge grin when I nonchalantly pulled the first one from my bag.

Toting day two’s figure and paper, I set off from the shop to the street where I was to deliver Christian Aid envelopes, perusing the instruction leaflet en route. A ruler was one of the handy things it listed to bring along when delivering envelopes. I didn’t have one. As I tried to stuff an envelope through the first door’s slot, I had visions of my friend who recently had his finger bitten off by a dog when delivering leaflets. The Sun shone again as, folded up, it became the perfect tool for the task.

The real sun rarely shines in Buxton. So a couple of weeks ago my husband and I soaked it in while we were in Israel. On our first day we made the trip from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in an un-air-conditioned sherut, a shared taxi reminiscent of the mashrutka we used in Russia. As it was Friday, we knew that as the sun began to set everything would start shutting down for the beginning of Shabbat. Friday evening is the time to spend with one’s family.

We’ve designated Friday nights as family night, a night to embrace that great feeling of knowing the day-to-day grind has started to ease for awhile. Supper isn’t rushed and is often prepared with cocktail in hand and tunes blaring. After the plates are cleared we may play a hand or two of Uno. And the night usually ends with a video and the de rigueur bowl of popcorn.

I’ve never been great at observing Sabbath – an entire day off, resisting completely those chores that could be done on a different day. I know from (rare) experience there is nothing quite as rejuvenating. And I also know that the smallest infringement (‘I’ll just fit this one thing in’) has the power to distort that wellbeing disproportionately.

Sadly, that knowledge hasn’t turned me into one of the faithful. But I think Friday nights could be my road to repentance. The sun is almost down. It’s time to sign off for the week….