Courage

Yesterday I experienced the blessing of a kind send-off. After preaching my sermon, the congregation joined me in a call and response version of Psalm 121. The last line takes on special significance as the sabbatical journey begins: "The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore." (Psalm 121:8)

The coffee hour after the service was low-key, as I had hoped. There were lots of hugs and kind wishes. "You'll have a great time," someone said. "I pray this sabbatical provides what you need," added somebody else. Their wishes were as sweet as the chocolate-covered strawberries that our friend Karen had provided.

The most thought-provoking word was from Andy, who said, "I wish I had the courage to do what you're doing." I hadn't thought of a sabbatical as an act of courage, but it probably is. It's courageous to leave a busy congregation in the hands of God, although our excellent staff will provide good care for them.

It's courageous, I suppose, to engage in self-care to the point of taking leave from one's duties. My hope is that some Sabbath-keeping will make me a better Christian, and therefore a better pastor.

Personally, it's going to take some courage to put myself entirely in God's hands - - to script my days by scripture, to receive what God provides, and to live totally in God's mercy. That will my great adventure for the next two months. Pray for me.

This week, my first task is to relax. There are some necessary chores to be done today, like mowing the yard and balancing the checkbook. But I hope to sit in my chair, read a couple of psalms, and watch the wrens.

And maybe like our furry friend in the picture, I can catch up on a little sleep.