Shortly after my Sabbatical in 2014, I took some time to reflect on what I learned. Here are seven things…
Trust God to do the work. Psalm 127 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” God graciously led Cheryl and I to this early. We were very much aware that we could not orchestrate what we longed for on sabbatical.
Have the same clock for the whole family. My sabbatical clock started on May 11. Cheryl’s started on June 1. We both found that it took about two weeks for us to slow down and stop being restless. And because of the calendar, our anxiety and restlessness were on different schedules. Next time, I will make sure that our calendars are the same.
Rhythm is your friend. If possible, stay in the same place for a long time. It will take a little while to learn the rhythm of a location. When you learn this, you are able to rest. Moving from place to place derails this process.
Find your “spot” quickly. Your spot is a place to meet with Jesus. Could be a local coffee shop, a place on the porch or a table by the ocean with an umbrella to shade you from the sun. But, find a spot quickly so that you can go to that spot every day to meet with Jesus.
Boredom is your friend. Begin sabbatical at a place where you can rest, not where you feel the need to go and do. Limit entertainment. I found that reading Vince Flynn novels kept me from resting. So, I wasn’t watching tv (as much), but I was seeking entertainment. This was an escape and enjoyable, but not refreshing. I found that I started resting more when I didn’t have any more books to read.
Get some time during sabbatical where you can be served. We found an all inclusive resort without kids. What a joy to not have to think about meals, dishes, cleaning, etc. So rejuvenating! The experience of being served will refresh you to serve others.
Use a coach. I can’t tell you how beneficial it has been to have a coach through this process; the blend of teaching, listening and directing has been incredibly helpful.
If I can help you with your Sabbatical journey, let me know.
