Sometimes we are unable to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. The reason could be a chronic health problem or sickness or other unavoidable circumstances.

I had to stay home from the Feast 19 years ago. My newborn son had a serious health issue that needed medical attention right away. It was a stressful time, and it sure felt lonely. The days just passed, each one the same as the last one. It was not good.

What could a person do to focus their mind and spirit on the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles if they are stuck at home?

Make special note of the passing of the days

You could try a count down to mark the passage of time that each of the seven days of the Feast represents! Here's what I mean:

The Feast of Tabernacles takes place over a seven-day period. Perhaps God made it days long to get us thinking about the passage of time. Not just any time, but the days, weeks, months, years and centuries of Christ’s 1,000-year rule. A time leading up to, and preparing for, that spectacular moment when all those who have ever lived will be raised back to physical life.

If seven days are meant to picture 1,000 years, then each day would be like the passing of 143 years. Think of what Christ will have accomplished after 143 years, then 286 years, then 429 years and so on.

During those days, weeks, months and years, you and others like you will assist Christ in creating a new society and culture. We’ll build it on the ash heap left behind by humanity’s failed attempt to build their own society, culture and governments apart from God. Christ’s new society will be firmly established and complete by the time of the second resurrection. It will give all those billions of resurrected lives an example of the kind of life God wants all His creation to have and enjoy. They will see it with their eyes, touch it with their hands and feel it with their hearts and minds. Then they will be asked to choose if they want to be a part of it or not.

That new society will not be built overnight. God our Father seems to like to build and convert over time, starting small and growing larger. He seems to want as many who are willing to have the opportunity to participate. Most of all, He wants each of us to choose the way that leads to life and abundance rather than force it upon us.

The rule of Christ builds and provides this example of peace and abundant living over a period of 1,000 years.

The idea of marking off the passing days of the Feast of Tabernacles with a physical reminder that appears like a countdown is actually found in God’s Word! Take a look at Numbers 29:12-34 and you’ll see that on the first day of the Feast, 13 bulls are offered as sacrifice, the second day 12, the third day 11 and so on. The final day 7 bulls are sacrificed. God built a countdown technique into the Feast of Tabernacles observance.

Those of us who have accepted Christ and His sacrifice no longer offer up bulls, or sheep or goats. But perhaps we might consider personally marking off the passing days of the Feast some other way as a physical reminder. I know some parents who create a paper chain, adding one each passing day. You might come up with something completely different that suits your circumstances. Give it some thought; be creative.

Use this as a reminder. Meditate on what the rule of Christ will have accomplished after each successive day—143 years. Each day a wonderful step towards a new society of peace and abundant living.