So … it’s been a while, but I am back on the blog, and I am ready to write, share, think and spew my thoughts about life, religion, God, the world, relationships and pretty much whatever else comes to mind – whether it’s important or helpful or meaningful or not.
First, let me answer the most frequently asked question: how’s the Sabbatical going?
I have been away from the office about 6 weeks now, and the time has been – pick a word? – great, wonderful, peaceful, perfect, restful, reflective, re-creative, restorative? But to be honest I miss work, I miss preaching, I miss the good people of the church, I really miss the energy and collegiality of the staff, and not a day goes by when I don’t think about what I will do when I get back to it all.
Stepping away from my daily responsibilities has made me realize what a routine my work is. I have often though my work as a pastor is unpredictable and sometimes chaotic – and that’s sometimes true. I never know exactly what to expect each day. People die. Tragedy strikes. One e-mail or phone call can shoot a hole in my whole week! But I now realize that there is a general predictability to it all. More often than not, I go from sermon to sermon, from staff meeting to staff meeting, from Session meeting to Session meeting, from Advent through Christmas and onto Easter every year for about 25 years!
I have often said that what I enjoy most about my work is that I have a front row seat to the beauty of life – I get to hold babies during baptism, I stand with couples as they say their marriage vows, I often pray with people who are afraid of dying, and I get to stand with families at the time of death. Life truly is beautiful, and pastors see it up close and personal. It is a sacred and holy calling.
I miss the people – and I miss the routine! But these weeks will help me – ARE helping me! – reflect on my routine and keep it fresh and intentional. Borrowing from the old Jack Nicholson movie, The Shining, “All work and no play makes [John] a dull boy,” and John hates dull – and you hate it when John is dull! I remember Fred Craddock, a venerated homiletics professor, saying that it is a sin to be boring in the pulpit. Ouch. Hopefully, this time of enrichment will make me less of a sinner … in the pulpit anyway!
What have I been doing? Well, the first couple of weeks were focused on family – my mother came out for a visit, and, as many of heard, Katie had a horrible car accident in North Carolina which demanded attention. (She is doing great and is already at camp as a counselor!) As promised, I have been running a lot. I ran one ½ marathon and plan to do another one this weekend. I have been studying music and astronomy – two black holes in my liberal arts education. Yes, I have attended worship somewhere almost every Sunday. In addition, I have been to several Rockies games, watched American Idol every week and have taken in several movies and one play. The strangest thing is having a real, two-day weekend. The yard will look great by the end of the summer!
And NOW I am starting to write!
Stay tuned.
