OK, enough of this

Two and a half more hours, and I'm back on the clock. It's time to remove the "away" message from the e-mail server (if I can remember how) and find the church calendar that I stashed away in mid-June. Hmm . . . wonder what I have to do this week? I don't have a clue.

Meanwhile, today was a perfectly relaxing way to end the sabbatical. We worshiped at a nearby church, went out for brunch, and had a swim in the pool. I did some reading and writing. I've begun to write a report of sorts, knowing that I have to summarize the summer in some way, if only for myself and the organization that provided the grant.

Have you ever noticed? Whenever we take a trip somewhere, people will ask, "How did it go?" They will give you about thirty seconds to speak, and then the conversation will move on. So one needs to be ready.

There's no way to boil down an experience such as this. The working title of my report suggests how it's gone: "A Good Sabbath, or How I Spent My Summer Vocation."

There have been a few changes in me that I'm aware of, and perhaps others will detect them. Here's one change - my sermon for next Sunday is mostly written, and the sermon for the following Sunday is started. I hope that's a rhythm that I can keep going for a while. It will sure make my home life a bit easier. And it suggests that I am really looking forward to returning to my work.

As I settle in tonight, I recall a sermon that Tom Troeger once preached to our annual preaching group. Paraphrasing Deuteronomy 1:6, he declared, "You've been on this mountain long enough." Not a bad theme verse as I return to my beloved congregation!

This sabbatical has been an amazing time, and I feel deeply refreshed. Thanks to the many who have made it possible. I am grateful beyond words.