Sabbatical Week 2

It was almost two years ago that I began this sabbatical process.  I asked permission from the Personnel Committee and the Session to apply for a grant.  I began imagining what I could do- travel, study, write, pray.  Then I began preparing a grant application for Lilly.  The application was long and detailed.  It took months.

The application was hand delivered the day before the deadline.  It went into a pile with hundreds of other worthy requests for limited funds.  Then I waited.  And waited.  And waited.  And waited.  And waited.  The June announcement date was pushed to July.  Finally, in July of last year I received the letter saying I had been awarded a grant.

I was thrilled but it still seemed so far off.  Besides, we were in the middle of the building program and staff changes and work and all that took priority.  So sabbatical moved to the back burner.

Then last fall I realized I needed to start making plans for guest preachers so I took care of that.  Then came the travel plans and just as I began Jack got sick.  New issues came up that I had honestly never considered.  What if jack was not able to go with me?  Would I go alone?  Would I take someone in his place?  Would I stay home and give the money back?

I prayed and decided simply to wait and see.  I amazed myself with my lack of worry.  Surgery in December promised to take care of everything.  Then a return to the hospital in January put more doubt in the picture.  Finally in late January I took the plunge and booked the airline tickets.  As jack recovered I booked the safari.  As he continued to improve I made arrangements to visit mission sites and found guest houses where we could stay.  By early Lent the plans were in place and Jack was going with me to the YMCA to prepare physically for the trip.

Still no time to get excited though.  I still had to get through Lent.  Then the somber, sober strains of Holy Week kept my focus on worship and my own faith.  Even Easter Sunday was thankfully all about Jesus and the resurrection.  My work at the church was over and sabbatical could begin.

Still, not much excitement.  One more hurdle to cross.  I had agreed two years ago to teach a class at the Benedict Inn for the second class of Women Touched by Grace.  So the week after Easter I came to the Inn to team teach Pastor as Spiritual Mentor.  It has actually been a magnificent way to begin my time off.  Teaching has helped me clarify my own focus for sabbatical and for my ministry when I return.  This has been superb.

Last night, after evening prayers I returned to my room.  My cell phone was beeping that I had a reminder.  There was a note I had put in two months ago.  “Begin malaria medication.”  We take the first pill two weeks before entering the infected area.  As I took the pill it hit me.  In two weeks I will be in Addis Ababa.  I could not sleep.

This morning I am focused again on the class.  I finish that today and head back home to begin laundry and packing.  I still feel amazingly calm considering what lies ahead.  Actually, I am feeling grounded in the present, and that feels splendid.  I am enjoying each moment of each day and appreciating God’s presence in the now.  Most of my life I have spent focused on the future.  I always look at what is coming, what happens next, where I am headed, what is my next goal, what task has to be accomplished next.  Finally, today I am able to simply be in the present.  I feel content.  I feel blessed.

The excitement washes over me in waves and I am sure the waves will become more intense and more frequent in the next week.  But for now I am just enjoying this feeling that life is good, God is great, and I am simply content.