Shabbos is known as the day of rest. At first, the concept of "rest" seems simple, relax, spend time with family, eat tasty food and physically rest. How do we then understand that Halachically it is more "restful" to walk ten miles to a shul than to take a five minute drive there? Obviously the concept of "Shabbos rest" is deeper and more subtle than it would seem at first.
The source for the concept of Shabbos rest comes from the paradigm set up in the Torah that G-d worked for six days and then on the seventh day He rested. This idea is expressed in Genesis as "G-d rested on the seventh day after the work which he had done." What these verses imply is that there is a balance and separation between accomplishment/work and satisfaction/rest.
One of the most difficult and challenging of lifes skills to master, is the ability to "live in the moment." Children despite their lack of maturity and development, paradoxically are masters at living in the moment. Children cherish each and every moment like it is the only reality which exists in their lives. Children unbashfully don't worry about the" future" or "self development" and whole heartedly experience each and every moment as who they are now. As these children grow older they may become obsessed with ideas like "self development", "change", "goals", "careers", "dreams," and many other positive, future orientated activities. As positive and healthy these goals and future aspirations may be, they can easily and maliciously steal the bearer of these dreams from the "magic of the moment". Future orientated thinking can easily distance one from the magic of the"process"of life; the magic which encompasses the fullness found in the "unfinished" human being".
The depth of the message of Shabbos is that we can, for a day, experience life like a child encounters reality. For one day we are given the opportunity to be completely at peace with ourselves the way we are now. Being at peace with ourselves and "Shabbos rest" do not imply lack of growth or development, but development in a "present" orientated manner. A child in the first five years of it's life develops physically, emotionally and mentally at an astonishing rate, learning, adapting and changing quicker than it will do for the rest of its life. The changes though, come with the grace of a child, without worry or self doubt, but with complete ease, presence and belief that the reality and destiny which needs to unfold will unfold (okay maybe the belief is just subconscious, we are talking about a child after all).
So when Shabbos comes around it gives us an opportunity to feel and experience how we feel about G-d in our lives today. How do we experience the beauty of the world today? How do we feel in our lives and bodies today? Are we able to enjoy each moment today? Shabbos in its depth is saying the way you are today is beautiful. Shabbos is saying don't work to change your reality, live with yourself, enjoy your reality whole heartedly, and you will flourish through being in the moment.
With the above in mind we can understand why "future" orientated planning is against Halacha on Shabbos. On shabbos we do not focus on what needs to be changed in the future, i.e. should I start going to yeshiva? should I start a business? etc, even though these are important life decisions which need attention, Shabbos is not the time. Shabbos moves us out of the realm of the six days of "future" orientated work and into the realm of present orientated growth and "being".
One of the objectives of the Halachot on Shabbos is to guide our actions to only "present" orientated activities. Walking even for a long time (as long as it is in a way permitted on Shabbos) doesn't remove one from the "present" orientated head space of Shabbos, so it is o.k. Driving is a No, No. Driving involves using ignition which is a form of fire building, combustion, and many other work orientated activities. Work related activities are contradictory to the message of Shabbos because they take one out of the "present" mind space of Shabbos. These work activities put one into a building/creating mode which inhibits one from fully experiencing the moment, Shabbos, and ultimately, TRUE REST!!
I deeply and whole heartedly bless everyone to be able to experience true rest, and the sweetness of living in the moment, especially on Shabbot!!
