Will the Past Become the Future?

I've been lax the past 2+ weeks in writing...Africa and the children has taken up most of my time, and I promised myself that I would blog once each week this year.

Last Sunday, we had planned to go to worship in Cape Coast with Percy, our coordinator. However, Sarah had gotten sick on Saturday, and we needed to reschedule some things that we had wanted to do that day. We drove to the Canopy Walk (suspension bridge over the rain forest) and to Elmina Castle (the first slave port in Ghana). Along the way, we saw many people dressed and walking to church. I had noticed that a number of the roadside stands were closed, but didn't ask Percy any questions.

When we were traveling between the Canopy Walk and the castle, I asked Percy about the stores. He said that almost all of them close on Sunday, because everyone goes to church. There are churches of all sizes, shapes, and colors, and people dress in their best. The stores were just opening up (it was between 2:00 and 3:00 pm), but for the morning, business suspends itself for a higher purpose.

Over the years, I've heard a number of people say that they long for the days 20-50 years ago, when everything closed down on Sundays...Sunday was the Lord's day. Having observed what that's like, though, I wonder if we're willing to have things return to the way they were. If reclaiming Sunday for God or the church (as some evangelicals say) means that businesses close, but that we also have to give up our cars, televisions, and other things, would we do it? Are we willing to give it all up, or do we just want the parts that are convenient for us?

Perhaps the real question is: if I want to reclaim Sunday for God, the church, and Sabbath, am I willing to let those things reclaim me? The answer to that past will shape our future.