In the explanation of the Sabbath Commandment, one aspect that is often overlooked is the instruction that a person is to make the Sabbath rest a part of the lives of all those under your influence or power.
But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work–you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you.
If the sabbath commandment is a critical ungirding of our emphasis on self-care, it becomes clear that there is a link between caring for self and caring for all other forms of life. Eventually Israel would extend this to the land as well.
I think that you will discover that when you are feeling despirited in your personal life, a good sabbath move is to discover a way to respond to other people, animals, or land. We are an intricate web and we are uplifted when we are able to uplift someone else.
For clergy this is tricky because much of our profession involves reaching out to others. Our sabbath act in this regard should begin with a very simple act that does not require a long time commitment. A simple act of reaching out to a vagrant in a generous way, mowing an ill neighbors lawn, or being extra kind to your pet may be a good beginning.
