Manna

I’m coming to a new appreciation of the Israelite’s challenge in gathering extra manna on Friday, to preserve the Sabbath rest.  Here in Germany, we buy food on a daily basis (due to everything being fresher and more available, and refrigerators being the size of American microwaves).  But all stores, and I mean every store in town, is closed on Sundays.  This includes Aldi, and the big box department stores.  So unless you want to eat at a café or restaurant, you must plan ahead on Saturdays.  And no, you can’t make a late night trip on Saturday night when you realize you’ve forgotten; our local bakery was closed by 1 in the afternoon.

So, I’m forced to take a Sabbath rest.

I do find it interesting that in a culture so utterly lacking in true Christianity, this one aspect of Biblical obedience remains intact*; whereas in a “Christian nation” like America, we’ve lost some of the holiness of the Sabbath in our demand to have Everything Right Now.

*(I won’t ascribe religious motives to the Germans: I think it’s primarily their employee-friendly labor laws that preserve Sunday as a day of rest.  Still, common grace).

Our Sunday lunch.  I know it looks small, but it is really dense bread. 
And anyway, I didn't want to have to cook.