The word sabbath has its...
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The word "sabbath" has its roots in the Hebrew verb shabbat, which means to "cease and desist." In Deuteronomy, the keeping of the sabbath is based on Israel's memory of her history as a people in bondage and God's freeing her from bondage. In the series Northern Exposure, Mike is a former corporate lawyer who has become a victim of "environmental disease." His body has become highly sensitive to chemicals in his environment, to the point that he can no longer function in an area where chemicals are prevalent. Consequently, he builds a geodesic, chemically-
free home near Cecily, Alaska, and begins to wear undyed, all-
natural clothing, eat all-natural foods, and tries to avoid going outdoors when the winds may be blowing specific forms of pollution in Cecily's direction. Not all residents of Cecily believe in his condition, but in time he finds friends and supporters and a love-interest in the form of Maggie O'Connell. Until the day comes when his blood tests finally come back normal, and he can function in the wider world again. With this revelation comes the awareness that in one sense, his illness was a gift -- it made him aware of the tremendous environmental problems facing the world, and he is in a position of doing something about them. So he becomes an activist for Green Peace, using his legal background on behalf of the environment. Mike's physical condition forced him to "cease and desist" from his life in the world, and in doing so, he found healing and renewal. He also found a new purpose in life, a way to give back to the world what he had been given -- restored health. His freedom from the bondage of illness led him to seek freedom for the earth. -- Johnson-Hoy
free home near Cecily, Alaska, and begins to wear undyed, all-
natural clothing, eat all-natural foods, and tries to avoid going outdoors when the winds may be blowing specific forms of pollution in Cecily's direction. Not all residents of Cecily believe in his condition, but in time he finds friends and supporters and a love-interest in the form of Maggie O'Connell. Until the day comes when his blood tests finally come back normal, and he can function in the wider world again. With this revelation comes the awareness that in one sense, his illness was a gift -- it made him aware of the tremendous environmental problems facing the world, and he is in a position of doing something about them. So he becomes an activist for Green Peace, using his legal background on behalf of the environment. Mike's physical condition forced him to "cease and desist" from his life in the world, and in doing so, he found healing and renewal. He also found a new purpose in life, a way to give back to the world what he had been given -- restored health. His freedom from the bondage of illness led him to seek freedom for the earth. -- Johnson-Hoy
