First of all, thank you so much for all the well wishes, prayers, and support you gave for my sabbatical. There were numerous occasions over those twelve weeks away when I was filled with gratitude for the sacrifices made by the Consistory, staff, and congregation of Liberti Church Collingswood, so that I could have the opportunity to step away from pastoral duties for three months.
Second, I am happy to report that I truly feel rested, refreshed, renewed, and refocused. Moreover, I am happy to be back and excited to continue serving this congregation as we embark on a new ministry year and the second half the Re:Presence Initiative!
As you might expect, some of the highlights of my sabbatical revolved around travel, namely a short vacation with Carrie, Olivia, and Madison—our first as a family of four—to Cape Cod, a two week stay in Knoxville, TN with our extended families, two nights alone with Carrie in Asheville, NC—our first overnight without kids since December 2019, a two night retreat of solitude and silence for me at a friend’s cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains, and a beach vacation to Corolla, NC with Carrie’s parents, siblings, and their families.
When we were not traveling, I was here at home in New Jersey doing very little that was “Instagram worthy.” I spent the majority of those days trying my best to be unhurried and unproductive, seeking to address my own physical, spiritual, and emotional fatigue and be fully present to God and my family. I lingered over the Scriptures and spent extended time in prayer. I practiced silence and solitude regularly. I dealt with some unresolved grief related to lost relationships. I read a decent amount (see list below) and journaled a lot.
To be honest, slowing down and relinquishing my addictions to productivity, efficiency, and success was difficult, but God met me in that space. I felt His presence and heard His voice at a much higher frequency and volume than I have over the past few years. I rediscovered the beauty, depth, and relevance of the gospel for my everyday life. I gained clarity about who I want to be, how I want to be experienced relationally, and what I want to focus on in this next season of ministry.
If you are interested, here are the books that I read (or started) while on sabbatical:
- Barton, Haley Ruth. Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence.
- ________. Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry.
- Collier, Winn. A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson.
- Cron, Ian Morgan. The Story of You: An Enneagram Journey to Becoming Your True Self.
- Macchia, Stephen A. Crafting a Rule of Life: An Invitation to the Well-Ordered Way.
- Serge. Sonship, 3rd edition.
- Shippey, Tom. J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century.
- Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit.
- ________. The Lord of the Rings.