I’ve been back from an 8 week sabbatical for a few weeks and I’ve had a lot of opportunities to interact with a variety of people. I am grateful for the many who have asked how it went and what I’ve learned. But I still have a few people each week who ask and I think it would be helpful for me to put some thoughts down in writing to share some of the takeaways I found through a time away to connect more closely with God.
1. It Takes Some Time To Let Go
I love ReCAST Church. I carry many burdens for people but nobody is a burden.
It is a temptation for a pastor who genuinely cares to begin to carry things he is not meant to carry. God explicitly teaches us to cast all our cares on Him. It wasn’t until I was away for 3-4 weeks that I began to really let go of that tension and worry. I didn’t realize how much I was holding onto until I felt what it was like to let it all go. This sabbatical has helped me to gauge how much I’m carrying. I hope to keep this in better balance in the future.
2. We Have Fabulous Leaders At ReCAST
I have heard from many people, that they were very impressed with our elders who preached while I was away. But that was just the up front stuff (which is a big deal). Our youth pastor, Ben Wainwright, stepped up into some very hard situations in my absence. And further the elders engaged in many of the situations already in process while I was away: caring for people, giving biblical counsel, and speaking truth into hard places. I am grateful for such a godly leadership that gives me confidence that ReCAST would do just fine if God suddenly called me home to Him today.
3. God Met Me In The Unhurried Spaces
I am increasingly convinced that I burn a little too hot in my day to day. I am always in a hurry. This is not to say that I am overworked and isn’t intended to play into the stereotypical of “busy!” (which is the new answer to the question, “how are you?”). My hurry is a sign of impatience. My hurry looks like getting in my car to drive from point A to point B and doing 5 over the speed limit WITHOUT first checking my texts or missed phone calls. My nature is a frenetic chain of point to point to point, day after day. This sabbatical brought me back to a time of enjoying the big puffy clouds on a summer day. Listening to birds. And meditating more in God’s Word. A hurried life is rarely a worshipful life. I slowed down and found that God was right there all along. He wasn’t absent in my hurry. I just wasn’t taking time to see Him in my day.
4. My Wife is an Amazing Gift
This sabbatical was the largest block of time that Linda and I have spent together in our entire married life. I wasn’t sure if we would be at each other by the end, or wishing for more time together. In the end, we had such a great time! I am grateful for a godly partner in life. We laughed a lot. We talked a lot. We prayed a lot. And we saw a lot of cool places. The shared experiences over this sabbatical were life-giving to us and our marriage. We grew in appreciation of each other over the 8 weeks were away. What a blessing and we sincerely appreciated the opportunity to both be away together.
5. I am Excited for Our Executive Pastor (Trent Johnson) to Begin
Being away helped me to step back, gain perspective, and pray more. It pointed me to the value of an unhurried life in pastoral ministry. This is something that Eugene Peterson would call a contemplative life. (I read his book: The Contemplative Pastor, while I was away). And this value is in some ways in competition with the growing needs of a growing church body. The church didn’t have less need when I got back. So the hiring of an executive pastor starting at the end of September is perfect timing. Having someone who can direct the operations of ReCAST will help allow me to focus my time and attention on preaching, praying, and providing spiritual direction.
God has cared for ReCAST Church over the years. I have watched him lead us through many seasons. And He has been kind to give us just what we need just when we need it. I can see what God is doing only because it feels like a well worn path. He is setting us up to continue to grow in faith, community, and service in a church that has growing needs due to growing numbers.
I am grateful.
He is faithful.
