We’ve heard about the Mitzvah of Shabbos before, when we got the luchos. We learned then that for six days we can work, but come day seven, we give it a rest. This week, the commandment is iterated a bit differently; “On six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest for Hashem…”
For six days of the week we work to bring in sustenance; we have jobs, we have responsibilities both in and out of the home that keep us running. We need to work-hard-to have food and clothing and all the basic necessities humans require. For those six days, even if we are immersed in the Torah lifestyle, we are running. Doing. Making purpose out of our existence. On the seventh day, we are asked to stop, not only for ourselves, but for God. Stop trying to make tomorrow matter more than today. Stop running around, chasing our tails in the hopes of reaching a new destination. Just stop. Sit and focus on God. On the creation of the world, the creation of man, the purpose we have in this life.
Shabbos is a time to “sleep” before the clock stops and there is no tomorrow. We are running, so hard, so fast….just stop. Stop for a moment and focus on what is important in life, on what our goals are as Jews, on what we are really trying to achieve. Take the time to stop now on this one day a week of national rest and realign the sails so that when day one rolls around again, we can take it by a storm.