When people ask me about the first thing they should do to care for the earth, I give an answer that they don't expect: Start observing the Sabbath. The intent of the Sabbath laws is restraint. We are not supposed do it all, just because we can.

Sabbath is about taking our hands off the controls one day a week and letting God be God. Go on walks. Take guiltless naps. Share meals with family and friends. Cultivate a 24/6 life. If we all started honoring the Sabbath, we'd save 10 to 14 percent of our resources. But even more importantly, the Sabbath creates a space to get to know our neighbors, spend time in community, and be still with God.

My second priority for 2010 is to tune out the noise and tune into God. A decade ago, most of us could barely find the on-ramp to the information highway. Now our lives are a noisy blur - chat rooms, C-Span, satellite TV, triple digit cable options, email, IM, cell phones, text messaging, YouTube, iTunes, Bluetooth, Facebook, Twitter, RSS feeds. There is a loneliness and desperation that accompanies such noisy lives, and the temptation of false pride-an iGod mentality. All this noise is unhealthy: it stresses our bodies, our emotions, and our relationships. Most importantly, it takes us away from God. Let's create a space where we can once again hear the voice of Adonai and cultivate a culture of quiet. 

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