The Holiness of an Unfinished List

Labor Day weekend is almost here, and I already have a list. There are projects around the house that need to be done, things that need fixing, things I have put off, and probably a few things I will add to the list before the weekend even arrives. During the week, life and ministry fill the days, so when I see an extra day on the calendar, something in me immediately thinks, Finally, I have a chance to get some of this done.

Which, when you think about it, is a strange way to celebrate Labor Day. Labor Day grew out of a movement that recognized the dignity of workers and the need for time away from our labor. Yet here I am looking at a day off and wondering how much work I can squeeze into it. And I know myself well enough to know why. I love the satisfaction of finishing something. An unfinished project nags at me. If I have the time and opportunity to get it done, I feel like I should.

Maybe that’s why I’ve been thinking about Sabbath. Biblical scholar Renita Weems writes beautifully about the Sabbath she remembers from childhood. After six days filled with work, worry, struggle, and simply trying to make it through, Sunday offered something different. It was time for worship, good food, good clothes, singing, community, beauty, and joy. She describes Sabbath as a time when people could “mend our tattered lives and restore dignity to our souls.” Sabbath wasn’t simply about stopping work. It was about making room for the things that restore us and remind us who we are. It was a way of remembering that time itself is holy.

I believe that. I just don’t always live like I believe it. There is always one more thing I could accomplish, one more project I could finish. And when I finally have a little extra time, leaving something undone can feel almost irresponsible. But maybe there is something holy about an unfinished list.

Not because the work doesn’t matter. It does. Taking care of our homes, doing our jobs well, providing for our families, and tending to the responsibilities of our lives are all important. But they aren’t the only things that matter. There is also holiness in sitting around a table longer than necessary, taking a walk with someone you love, worship, laughter, a good meal, or reading something simply because you enjoy it. There is holiness in noticing the people around you instead of thinking about the next thing that needs to get done. There is holiness in remembering that every moment doesn’t have to accomplish something.

I don’t know how successful I will be at this over Labor Day weekend. My list isn’t going anywhere, and knowing me, I will probably knock out a few things on it. But maybe I don’t have to finish all of it. Maybe something can wait until Tuesday.

Maybe leaving a task unfinished can be its own small act of trust—a reminder that the world will keep turning, that time is a gift and not simply something to fill, and that God has given us more to enjoy in this life than what we can accomplish. I’m still learning this. But this Labor Day, maybe I’ll practice the holiness of an unfinished list.

With Gratitude,

Rev. Rodney Whitfield
Senior Pastor
Aldersgate UMC