The previous meditation drew attention to the futility of practicing faith in Christ on the template of Mosaic laws. Trying to live by the letter rather than the spirit of the word could be ridiculous indeed. It was almost beyond belief when I realized that in a typical Jewish hotel an elevator is designated for the Sabbath day. It is typically sluggish and has to stop at every floor (apparently to rest!) irrespective of which floor you press. I was asked recently if it wasn’t time we all reverted to Saturday as the day of worship. Those who want to take such step must think twice. They have to be ready to take every other law on board, not only the Sabbath but also all the laws embraced in Judaism, including dietary laws. “And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.” (Galatians 5:3 NKJV).

People get desperate for success and what it can bring that they live without margin. It would be a disaster to break down before the anticipated breakthrough. We all need some margin from time to time.

I think the idea of the Sabbath can have an adapted use for our time. We should take it as God’s way of introducing margins to our activities. A life without margin is rough and untidy. The cognitive power of a child cannot handle why his teacher would insist on having a margin before an exercise. But that margin is meant to provide for possible corrections and other necessary manoeuvres later. This thought can be carried over to our plans. Those who broke the law of the Sabbath were subject to death penalty in the Old Testament. It is doubtful that any government will kill those who work on the Sabbath, not even in ultra-Jewish settlements. But aren’t people killing themselves untimely because they don’t apply any break in their pursuit? People get desperate for success and what it can bring that they live without margin. It would be a disaster to break down before the anticipated breakthrough. We all need some margin from time to time.