...has been said more than once.
On the 30th May I am taking three months Extended Ministerial Development Leave, what used to be known as a sabbatical. I had hoped to take this last year, but COVID struck as I was down to single digit number of weeks before I was away, and that didn't seem the right time to be away from Church Family even with two Curates around. I'm glad I stayed here then. I had been getting myself ready for a trip along part of the Silk Road and had been stimulated by reading about the history of the region, the interface of different religions and the recent political changes brought about by the break up of the Soviet Union. Sixteen months on, travels are not a possible option and, if I'm honest, I don't have the capacity to be refreshed by such an undertaking.
So what then? I feel quite strongly that it is important (for a change) not to have a plan, but I do have some aims.
I aim to catch up on time with family and friends. Coming out of lockdown seems to be a great reason to get in touch with people we have not seen for too long.
I aim to retreat; to take a step back from the day to day and to release myself from responsibilities for a period. This is not about "me" time. Rather, it is important to reflect on and process all that has happened in these last months - probably the most significant event in our recent history in terms of its impact on everyone and their daily lives. This has thrown up challenges to how we understand Church and there is much to learn. I am glad of the chance to be able to step back and do that.
I aim to become a pilgrim, even if I am unable to journey a significant distance. I love the idea of pilgrimage, but baulk a little at our contemporary air-conditioned version with posh hotels and coach transfers. I love the idea that centuries ago, people would go on pilgrimages and never come back. My journey will not cover many miles, but I would like to recapture the simplicity of a life on the road.
I aim to spend time in recreation. We have adapted the meaning of that word to become about hobbies and pastimes, but I intend to allow myself to be re-created. Much of working in these last months has been a responsive act - coming to terms with new ways of ministering and learning the skills necessary to do that. Being responsive is good, but being intentional is also important. I think part of my re-creation needs to be in establishing a more rigorous rule of life to include things which have been pushed aside in the breakneck rush of the last season; to drink deep from Scripture and prayer, to engage intensely and gratefully with nature using my cameras, to learn a new skill or two, to read things I as yet don't even know have been written and to go about that slowly.
My current pile of books, or at least a chunk of that pile. Some read, some bought but not yet read, others part read, put back on the shelf and now to be finished.
My work email will be switched off and the work phone left to ring unanswered and without guilt. I will lie low on Facebook in particular. I feel that the need to be online and responding to interactions has wired my brain for FOMO and as a result I need a good, healthy detox.
I will write, but in a journal rather than online. I hope to have some things to then upload here and some photos to add to my photo website too, but those are secondary.
This time is about input, not output.
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