At
any rate, its an investment in my ministry, myself, and in my marriage. Fatigue,
stress, and struggle can add up and create a cumulative effect of exhaustion.
That’s where I’m at--tired. The kind of work and ministry I’m in has an edge to
it. Typically in an interim situation, people don’t want you there. They are
often glad you are there, but then they don’t really want you there. What they
want is to get through the transition and back to the routine as quickly as
possible. Transition, change, conflict, etc equals pain and we don’t like pain.
That’s American Christianity for you! It’s a little unsettling but that is what
it is. Today in the newspaper there was an article about the Muslim Brotherhood
in Egypt destroying churches in response to the military take over of the
government. (See NY Times, August 21, 2013). Interim work in a place like Egypt
would never work. The Coptic church is just glad to be alive and in existence.
They deal with life and ministry at a totally different level. The pastors
there will get their sabbatical and their reward in heaven! But for us in the
west, to adequately do what is needed, Sabbatical is important.
I’m
using my sabbatical to accomplish three things: (1) Rest and rejuvenate. My
sabbatical adviser suggested I work five, six hour days a week and spend the
evening relaxing and doing recreational activities—running, surfing, reading,
hanging out with my wife and kids. Anything fun. (2) Personal formation—I have
a coach and a study plan to grow in areas I want and need to grow in
academically. I’m using the time to read a lot on the gospel, moralism,
ministries of mercy, and biographies. I’m also reading some books for fun—just plain
fun stuff. A little George MacDonald and others. (3) Spiritual formation—just being
with God. I do this through silence and the plan is to spend a half day just in
silent reflection every couple of weeks.
This
is a good discipline. Today I go on vacation. Part of my sabbatical is to surf
the hurricanes coming up the east coast—something I’ve not done for about three
years. Part of it is to read some books that are more difficult like Jonathan
Edwards Religious Affections or The History of Redemption. I’m enjoying that.
Meanwhile,
my other team members are working at other churches or working at getting into
other churches and covering for me while I’m on break. It’s all good.
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