Sunday Funday?

Everyone these days is using the term Sunday Funday. This obviously implies that Sunday is a day of fun, right? I wished so much as a child that Sunday could be another play day. But my religion strongly believes that we must use Sunday as a day of rest. 

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy" Exodus 20:8

When I was a kid and my grandma would come over for dinner, I knew I had to stay in my church clothes or I got a lecture from her. Back then I didn't see the point - it was a race for me and my siblings to see who could change out of their church clothes the fastest as soon as we got home. But now I definitely feel a difference when I choose to stay dressed nicely. It reminds me constantly that it is still the sabbath day and therefore I should be acting differently than any other day. 

So the point of this rant... Last week was the first Sunday in a long time that I was able to fully enjoy. I didn't have to work. I wasn't waking up early in a different city to catch a plane home. I didn't have plans with friends. I was able to wake up in my own bed and get ready for church without being rushed or preparing a change of clothes for my activities afterward. I knew that I needed to take advantage of this day because starting this Sunday I will be working on the weekends again. So I won't be able to attend my ward. 

 

But while sitting in church listening to some Family History specialist spew off stats about ancestors, temples and such I got a text from a friend -yes I look at my phone in church, who doesn't?- asking if I wanted to join her and another friend on a drive to the coast later that day. I was totally in. My only stipulation was to leave a little later so I could stay for church. While explaining the Keep the Sabbath Day Holy aspect of my religion to another friend, he didn't understand why going to the coast was any different than meeting him at a restaurant later that night. I argued that it is completely different. But is it really?

Is a walk along the beach breaking the Sabbath Day? I think not. I called it enjoying the creations. God gave us this beautiful earth. And I took the time to enjoy it on Sunday. 

We parked at the first beach entrance we came to in Cannon Beach and walked all the way down to haystack rock. The tide was way out so the tide pools were fun to look at. Lots of mussels and starfish were hanging from the big rocks. The weather was perfect. It had been raining in Portland so we were unsure of the weather at the beach. But it turned out to be so perfect. I love days like this. Sometimes I find myself thinking that the coast is too far away. But for just an hour and a half drive I was able to enjoy one of my favorite scenes. I need to take more advantage of that.