It is common practice in mainline Protestant congregations to offer covenanting clergy a sabbatical. In his book Planning Sabbaticals: A Guide for Congregations and Their Pastors, Robert Saler writes, “a sabbatical is an extended period of time in which the pastor is away from the congregation pursuing a variety of intentionally renewing activities.” For us, that time will be July 13th- October 12th.
The question I have been asking myself is, “What will renew my spirit for ministry?” Each pastor is different, and in different places in life. I envisioned a sabbatical traveling to the Island of Iona, connecting with the Celtic roots of my family tree. I envisioned accepting a friend’s request to stay for a couple of weeks with him and his family in Sri Lanka, learning and participating with his faith community there. I envisioned hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail, purifying water from streams, and connecting with birds, trees, and fellow pilgrims along the way. However, as a father of three young children, I have decided to renew my spirit by being fully present with family and with friends. As a spiritual discipline, I will use the gift of time to truly savor the precious details of togetherness, giving God thanks and praise for this life and those I get to share it with.
“Yes, yes, but Pastor, what will you do? What will it look like?” It will look like a trip to Disney World, paying attention to joy and responding with compassion to strong feelings of hunger and heat. It will look like quality time spent with my Grandma Leiby and Grandma McDevitt. It will look like reflecting and sharing memories of my Grandpa Leiby, who passed away the day before Easter this year. It will look like building a treehouse, where kids have a say in the design plans and work with wood just like Grandpa. It will look like setting up my drum set on a restaurant patio, playing gigs with high school friends in our too-cool Dad band. It will look like taking my kids to their first Major League Baseball game, ordering hot dogs, and a big helmet filled with ice cream. It will look like a daily cup of coffee on the back patio after the kids are off to 1st grade and preschool, breathing the air and the moment deeply. It may not be an extravagant trip; however, in all I do, I will remember that all I need is right here. God’s presence, God’s love, and God’s grace can be discovered wherever I am. I trust this is the Sabbatical God has planned for me, which will renew and refresh my call to ministry.
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