The secret of the Sabbath: understanding the Lord's day...and living it

by Richard Eyre

Author Richard Eyre offers some interesting and creative insights into the purposes and practices of this day.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

64 pages

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Writers, lecturers, and grassroots and media catalysts, Linda and Richard Eyre's mission statement: "Our vision is to FORTIFY FAMILIES by celebrating commitment, popularizing parenting, glorifying grandparenting, bolstering balance, and validating values." Their latest efforts in these directions are their new books (The Happy Family [St. Martins Press], Empty Nest Parenting [Bookcraft], and The Book of Nurturing [McGraw Hill]) and their regular appearances on The CBS Early Show. Richard's new book, The Three Deceivers: How our obsessions with ownership, control and independence are ruining the quality of our lives, will be published next year.

Richard is president of a management consulting company and a ranked senior tennis player. He was a "mission president" for his church in London, and a candidate for Governor of Utah.

Richard and Linda have nine children (one of every kind) and live in Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City.

Reviews

[Kristopher Swinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've long noticed that people with shared fervor in one thing can make poor "bedfellows" on others. While I appreciated many of his observations--including some originally phrased ones I've never pondered before (especially on pp. 2-4)--I couldn't follow him everywhere, and didn't want to.

He prepares (17) for what he calls "suggested methods," many of which wouldn't be viable for most of us. His story about taking notes on prayers (29-30) was kind of...well...disturbing, and I laughed aloud at his efforts to portray "thought" vs. "non-thought" meditation (31). Even as he attempts to distance himself from the label of military regimentation, he certainly sends that impression with so many family programs and projects that my head was awhirl. (By the way, forward recording as given on p. 46 CANNOT be done.) What gives with holding two separate FHEs, effectively dividing the older children from the younger (60)?

I didn't intend to laundry list my gripes, nor did I even complete that task. I'm not one to advocate much relativism with regard to Sabbath activities, but he certainly makes me wince to take a stand in his camp. If only he'd developed more of what he and my mother teach so well: "The best measurement to determine what activities are appropriate on the Sabbath is the simple question, 'Does it assist me to worship the Lord?' . . . It helps to find particular ways to differentiate the Sabbath from other days--to start it differently, to approach it respectfully, to set an appropriate mood as it begins" (12, 19).

He's no general authority, which is why his application of principle seems all over the board, and also why his style didn't cut it for me in the absence of redeeming clarity.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It's a really quick book. I enjoyed it, and it made me want to make some changes and do better.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the suggestions and principles found in this book.