Jim Pace

The ABC’s of Jim’s sabbatical… without A’s, B’s or C’s…

June 1, 2011 | 1 Comment

So, a number of people have contacted me and asked about why my postings have dropped over the past few months.

Fair question with an easy answer.  Since May 15^th I have been on sabbatical, and for the roughly month and a half before that, I was getting ready to go on that sabbatical.  It got a little nuts.

The first six weeks of my sabbatical is intended to be a writing sabbatical where I would be able to do some very preliminary work on the next book; very preliminary.   I also want to continue some things to help promote the first one.  The second six weeks would be straight sabbating.  Some focused reflection in the morning and then just enjoying whatever we as a family wanted to do, by ourselves or with friends.

A bunch of people have asked what the point of a sabbatical is.

• Is it just an elaborate word for vacation?
• Is it an indicator that Tracy and I are about to move somewhere else?
• Am I taking it because my life is spinning a bit out of control?

To the second question.  No.  Certainly God has the ability to guide us wherever he chooses to, but, no indications that we are leaving the area or [nlcf] anytime soon.

Now for the first question, is this just another word for a vacation? The simple answer is, kinda.  The word we get vacation from is actually vacationem (nom. vacatio) “leisure, a being free from duty.  It also means freedom or release from an occupation or duty.  So, in that way, it does fit.  This summer I am not doing the things that I have spent the last 15 years doing in my ministry work as they relate to my job.  No teaching, no coaching of staff and leaders, no meetings, no planning, no assessing, no networking or helping out with any of the churches, congregations, and non-profits [nlcf] has started or helped to start.  I certainly continue to live my life as a follower of Jesus, I just don’t do certain occupational activities I have been doing for [nlcf].

That is certainly a release from my occupational duties.  And it has been great!

However, it doesn’t fit most people’s idea of a vacation in other ways.  The term sabbatical comes from the Mosaic code of the Old Testament.  It meant, the 7^th year where the land was to remain untilled, slaves were to have been released, and debtors relieved of their debts.  If you look at the Mosaic code, you get the intent of the sabbatical or Sabbath year.  It wasn’t just do take a random break, it was to take a reprieve from the demands of yearly planting so the ground could actually be more fruitful in the future.  It was to stop doing some things to remember more fully who God created them to be.

That is very similar to what I am trying to do. I have been on staff with [nlcf] for 15 years.  I started as a staffer who had never led a small group and who was still a pretty new follower of Jesus.  Think of where I started as the equivalent of the corporate mailroom.  As the years progressed I have had just about every job in [nlcf] you can have.  I even led worship one pitiful Sunday.

The reason I think God guided me to ask for the sabbatical this summer, and the reason I think he guided my co-pastors, friends and Tracy to encourage it, was that I needed to take time away and let the ground remain untilled.  Get away from the demands of helping to guide a church and all that requires and take time to allow the ground to soak up a few extra nutrients.  Step back a bit and reflect on whether I am becoming more fully the man God has created me to be.

I have already had more time to spend with my family, and that has been wonderful.  God speaks to me so much through them.  I have already read five great books and look forward to many more.  I have been able to sit down and read Leviticus in a sitting (not everyone would say that is a good thing) 🙂   I have had more time than normal to pray and more time than normal to reflect.  We have had a few neighbors over, with plans for more.  We have had the opportunity to help a few people that needed it.   We have planted a garden for the first time ever and I am getting to some yard and house work that has been long overdue.

We look forward to going to several other local churches to see how they approach God as a community and that will be great.  We will get to spend a couple of weeks at the beach as well.

Tomorrow, or maybe later :), I will go into more of why I think this time is so valuable in spite of the difficulty of getting everything ready.  I will also get to the issue of whether I am taking this sabbatical because I am about to spin out of control. Until then, thanks to everyone who is doing a bit more this summer so I can do a lot less.  Mike and Joe, you have made me feel very free to really get away.  Thank you.  Sarah, you not only helped me get ready for this, but you have been a great gatekeeper so that I don’t get drawn into things that I would like to get drawn into, thanks!   Jeanette and Steve I suspect one of the things we are seeing through this summer is how unnecesary I am.  I have had no doubt you two can handle whatever comes up on the campus side this summer.  Thanks.  To the rest of the staff team (especially the wise one who took me off the staff listserve 🙂 ) thanks for praying for us during this great time.  To our board, thanks for approving it when we are working on big stuff with both congregations, planting another church and starting a Masters cohort in the fall.  Some would have said to wait, but didn’t.  Thanks.

Until tomorrow-ish.

Peace, Jim

Categories: Church, life, NLCF