I should feel like a kid on the first day of summer
vacation. Released from the drudgery and routine of school, months of long
summer days with no demands seems like a dream come true to a child—and even
for most adults. For me, it’s that and also a little scary.
I love this ministry work. Most often, working in my sweet
spot coaching churches and teaching
church leaders and growing an organization
that wants to do that better energizes me. But Ascending Leaders’ board of
directors, in their wisdom, is granting—no insisting—that I unplug from
ministry for seven weeks. They understand (as I do) that taking a break from
our normal activities—even pleasurable activities—is not only good, but
necessary for our personal wellbeing as well as the health of the organization.
church leaders and growing an organization
that wants to do that better energizes me. But Ascending Leaders’ board of
directors, in their wisdom, is granting—no insisting—that I unplug from
ministry for seven weeks. They understand (as I do) that taking a break from
our normal activities—even pleasurable activities—is not only good, but
necessary for our personal wellbeing as well as the health of the organization.
I compare the situation to a caretaker. Imagine the spouse or child who tends
to a sick mate or parent. Without respite care occasionally stepping in and
giving this loving provider a break, the caretaker will wear out and be of no
use to the care receiver. Ministry leaders are especially susceptible to such
burnout. For that reason, I am grateful for the board’s decision to insist on
this mini-sabbatical.
Sabbath, and by extension sabbatical, is a concept woven
into creation. After six days of speaking the universe into being, work which
God clearly enjoyed and proclaimed “good,” he rested. Perhaps there was a sense
of sitting back and enjoying and appreciating the fruit of his labors. Surely,
the God who never slumbers or sleeps, did not need the physical rest.
In
instituting Sabbath God established a pattern of work. A weekly Sabbath invites
us to reflect on who we are, our unique contributions to the world and our
Maker, to reconnect relationships and worship God together. Caught up in our
workaday world, few of us take the time necessary to really reflect and ponder.
After months of feverish activity preparing for Ascending
Leaders’10th anniversary celebration and our daughter’s wedding, alongside the
normal daily demands of ministry and life, I acknowledge that I need a break.
But I also know it won’t be easy for me to completely unplug especially with
the technology that enables us to be connected 24/7. It’s both bane and
blessing, isn’t it?
Nevertheless, this week my wife and I are off on a
three-week trip to the northeast, exploring historic areas of our country, even
embarking on a “planes, trains, and automobiles,” segment through southeast
Canada before returning to Houston at the end of July.
In the remaining weeks
of my sabbatical I’ll be reading and studying in preparation for resuming a
busy fall schedule of teaching and coaching. Even in the study portion of my
sabbatical, however, I must take care not to focus my efforts only on
discipleship theory and examples, but even here to step back and read and
ponder outside of my routine, even outside of my comfort zone.
I covet your prayers for a pause in my ministry life that
restores and renews me for even more effective service.
