“Resting is not a  
waste of time.  
It is an investment  
in well-being.”   
Adam Grant

When I say that I have no regrets in life, a claim I have made on several occasions, I’m not being completely honest with myself. Of course I have regrets. One such regret is how often I squandered the gift of Sundays over the past thirty years. 

In my childhood, there was no question about how I would spend my Sundays. My family would attend the 10:00 Mass at Saint Gabriel Church. After Mass, we would return home and Mom would prepare a feast for breakfast. Occasionally, immediately after exiting the church, Dad would hand me a dollar bill and ask me to walk down to Billy’s Donut Shop on Taraval Street to pick up a dozen donuts. (Yes, I could purchase a dozen donuts with a $1 bill.) On special occasions, Dad would make gin fizzes for himself and Mom, and a batch without alcohol for us kids. Then we’d spend much of the remainder of the day visiting relatives. 

A lot has changed in the world and in my life since the ‘60s. I don’t go to church as often as I did in the past. Throughout my teaching years, I devoted too much Sunday time to preparing for the week ahead. I spent countless Sunday afternoon hours in my classroom grading papers, developing lesson plans, and making photocopies of handouts and tests I would need in the upcoming week. I did all this because it was important to me to be well-prepared for my classes. I also had the desire to give the appearance that being prepared was effortless for me. 

Now that I’m retired, Sunday can be much like any other day of the week unless I make a conscientious effort to make it different. Since the pandemic, my Mass attendance has been rare. When the weather was warmer, Kathy and I enjoyed going to the downtown Campbell Farmers Market on Sunday mornings. I have a strong desire to reclaim Sunday as a special day in the week. 

Whether I attend Sunday Mass, take a walk along the Los Gatos Creek Trail, or devote some quiet time to reading, I have a strong desire to use each Sunday morning as a time of reflection and gratitude. I would also like to use Sunday afternoon and evening time for getting together here at our home with friends and family in small groups. The commandment to “Keep holy the Lord’s day” does not specifically mandate Sunday Mass attendance at a local church. There are countless other opportunities to make the day holy, as well. Taking time each Sunday to focus on gratitude is certainly an appropriate way to do this.

Sundays are an excellent opportunity let go of the burdens of the past and to embrace the present with an open heart. On this wonderful Sunday, don’t forget to be thankful for the little things in life. It is in these little things, and in the people we encounter each day, that we experience the presence of God in our lives.