Prineville Presbyterian Church

 

^“…4but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of complete rest for the land,                    a sabbath for the Lord: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.”

~ Leviticus 25:4

 

I imagine that about the time you’re reading this, Kathleen and I will be in the midst of my  sabbatical. (I’ll be back in the office Monday, October 24^th).

In our Presbyterian denomination ‘sabbatical’ is part of a pastor’s “terms of call.” 

My sabbatical had been scheduled for 2020 – until COVID. Quickly it became very clear that a sabbatical then (or 2021 as the pandemic lingered) would not have been beneficial for either PPC or me. However, as PPC finds its post-pandemic rhythm we’re good to go. So ‘go’ we shall.

While Kathleen and I will randomly be in and out quite often; during our times away we’ll be camping by ourselves, and at other times we'll be with friends. Plus, we’ll spend some non-camping time with family as well.

All of this is right in line with what Lifeway Research suggests in its: 6 Reasons to Take a Sabbatical: “rest, release burdens, reconnect with loved ones, disconnect from tech, travel, and tinker.”

While I appreciate these 6 points, as I weave them all together -- I come to a ‘ruach’ recharge.

Ruach is the Hebrew word for God’s breath, wind, spirit that we find at the beginning of creation, and that is still on the move today.

In doing some reading about sabbaticals I came across a comment that won’t let go of me: “Don’t let a sabbatical be a cheap excuse for a vacation.”  

So while there will be many vacation-like elements to my sabbatical…

…to keep this as more than a vacation…

…we’ll start our day with a devotional and end with a daily examen (reflecting on the day’s events to sense God's presence and direction). I expect I’ll have another book or two I’ll be reading as well.

Bringing all of this together; the recharge comes in the reminder that the weight of the world (or PPC) is not on my shoulders (nor is it on yours)...

...and neither is my value and identity found in what I produce (nor is your value and identity found in this either).  

Instead, as I catch my breath-in-God, this recharge comes to me with God in control - the One whom I can trust and who holds the whole world.

The world that God created. In six days. Right before God took a sabbatical.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike