Feelin' Groovy!

It happened quietly — the way these things often do.

Somewhere along the way, I had slipped into a pace that wasn’t sustainable. The frenzy of holiday preparations had taken hold, layered on top of several other stressors. There were repeated visits to a physical therapist for a torn bicep tendon, too many social commitments, an overbooked client schedule, and a significant amount of writing I was behind on.

Without fully realizing it, I had stopped honoring Sabbath.

Weekends became workdays. Rest became elusive. And the signs showed up in predictable ways — I was tired, depleted, and, if I’m being honest, a bit grouchy.

The Lord, however, is both gentle and attentive. From time to time, He awakens me with a scripture, a phrase, or even the lyrics of a song — a personal nudge meant not to shame, but to reorient my heart.

One morning, I woke up with lyrics playing in my mind from a song I hadn’t thought about in decades: The 59th Street Bridge Song from the 1960s. The song is about slowing down, savoring the moment, and making the morning last.

And then came the line that made me smile:

“Feelin’ groovy.”

I actually laughed. The Holy Spirit has a wonderful sense of humor. And in that quiet moment, it dawned on me — I hadn’t been “feelin’ groovy” for quite some time.Not because life was wrong, but because my pace was.

So I brought it to the Lord. I asked Him to help me take an honest look at my schedule, my commitments, and my priorities. I asked Him to help me reclaim Sabbath — not just in theory, but in practice.

That meant returning to traditional Sabbath, where work ceases and presence is restored. It meant honoring ministry Sabbath, recognizing that even sacred work requires rhythms of rest. And it meant tending to soul Sabbath — the kind of quiet, unhurried space where the soul is nourished simply by being with God, not producing for Him.

And sure enough, He met me there.

Schedules shifted. Boundaries became clearer. Space opened up. What I had been striving to manage on my own, the Lord gently helped to realign.

If you’re finding yourself not quite feeling “groovy,” you’re not alone. You may want to pause and gently take inventory. Look at your commitments. Notice your pace. Pay attention to what has quietly crowded out rest.

Then invite God into the process.

Not to add another obligation, but to help you recover Sabbath — and with it, joy, peace, and presence.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is slow down long enough to rest in His Presence and simply enjoy life.

And occasionally, God even puts a song in our hearts to remind us.

I invite you to pause for a moment and notice your own pace. Where has rest become elusive? What might God be gently inviting you to release — or rearrange — so there is space again for presence, joy, and Sabbath?