I really think there is wisdom, especially now, in our crazy world, in a Day of Rest. And the more I contemplate it, the more Saturday makes sense.
Here is the thing: do you pay the world first, or pay yourself? Do you give your best to the world first, or to the people and things and activities you love? Work is not life, or in any event, it should not be. Work should be important. It should be done competently and ideally with passion.
But most of us are working for someone else. Do they deserve, should they get, the very best part of our selves, of our capacities, our efforts? I don’t think so.
The week starts with Sunday. This is when you pay yourself. This is when you do the things you always said you were going to do. This is when you start or work on the novel, plant the garden, listen to beautiful music, paint the house a color that makes you happy, spend time with your family (which you also do on Saturday). This time is for you.
Nearly all of us, even if it takes some long days, can get done in five days what truly needs to get done. A friend of mine who knew someone who had been through both Norwegian Jaeger School, and American Army Ranger School, said the former was significantly harder, DESPITE the fact that they got every weekend off. It was, as I understand it, Monday through Friday, roughly four weeks.
Most of us underestimate how much we can truly get done in a day if we focus. I think it is much, much smarter to work HARD as needed, for a defined period of time, them to take a determined, serious, break. To lay around and do something close to nothing for 24 hours. Then, to get up, and do something creative and fun. Amble towards your work week in this way, THEN on Monday, set off at whatever speed you need to to keep the whole thing working.
This makes emotional sense to me. Sunday, you work, but you do work you want to do, which is important TO YOU. It is not for “The Man”. It is for you and your family and your friends.
In a way I can’t precisely define, I feel making Monday the first day offers all power to the Church, which instituted this idea.