I like how this is formatted. In our crazy, busy lives, it is important to make time for Sabbath. When we are unaccustomed to tuning out the world around us, something like this can be very helpful in teaching us how to focus on something else.

I have a few modifications that I would make. First off, ‘Breathe’, ‘Peel Away’, ‘Prayer Shawl’, and ‘Tracing Sands’ do not have any scripture associated with them. The following verses would fit well with the themes that I have listed:

Breathe – Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”

Peel Away – Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.”

Prayer Shawl – 1 Thess. 2:16-17 – “ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.”

Tracing Sands – Jeremiah 29:11 – “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

Second, I would include a worship service at the end. This could be a simple time of simple music, prayer, reflection, or even something such as Taize. During this time, the petitions that were placed on the nails at the ‘Cast Your Cares’ station could be burned during a special reading or prayer, or simply in a moment of silence.

Two more brief suggestions are to have a pastor or counselor available for people who may need some discussion time if difficult emotions arise during any of the stations. Perhaps a journal could be available that would include the description of the stations and the scripture associated with them.

According to Jane Vella’s 12 Principles for Effective Adult Learning, this exercise in meditation and reflection is a great example of some of the principles. “Learners are subjects of their own learning.” The participants move at their own pace and are guided, not directed, and they process the stations on their own. Another principles this is an example of is, “Learning with ideas, feelings, and actions.” These stations use visual arts and aural arts such as music and the items in the stations and feelings are a huge part of each of the stations. This is why I think providing a journal would be a nice addition. The experiences are immediate, which is another principle, along with clear roles. This event also engages the learners. They can express and invest themselves as much or as little as they would like.

The Mediation Station exercise is also an example of Parker Palmer’s theory of the teacher creating space for learning. Each station has its own space and is designed in such a way that it may be adapted easily to maximize learning. The stations are comfortable and non-threatening.