"What will you be doing for six months?"
The question comes up a lot these days.
Folks from my faith community mostly are asking it. They're referring to a six month hiatus from having any presence at all at Highview between June 1 and December 1, 2018. This is an important piece in the transition between myself and Highview's new Senior Pastor Erin Wildsmith, as I step into a new role, Missionary In Residence.
What a wonderful gift to be asked to remain part of the community I love so deeply, to have their full support for the work in Thailand, and to know that, at the proper time, I can come home to worship again.
But first, there's six months away. What will I do?
For those who know me, it won't come as any great surprise you to know that I have a list.
1. New Office Space
The first order of business is to move out of my office. I am so grateful for Erin's patience as I have asked that this not happen until after the goodbye service on Sunday, May 27th. I just knew I would need to still have my office intact on that day, so I could say a proper, private, early hours goodbye. This office has been a sacred space to me for a very long time. God has been so very present, always. Countless sermons, personal break-throughs, moments of revelation and vision and surrender. Pain, joy, frustration, awe. Deep and beautiful conversations with folks exploring the nuances of spiritual formation and the complex matters of life. So much prayer.
I have truly loved being in my office.
But now I am just as truly glad for Erin, to entrust it to her. For her to finally have a space where she can concentrate and spread out a little and have actual shelves for her books. To let it become a sacredness of its own for the ministry God has so clearly called her to at Highview.
AND, while it will be different, I am also looking forward to setting up and settling in to my space downstairs at home that will become "the office" for all the new things God is bringing. Another sacred space no doubt.
2. Sabbath and Restoration
When it was first suggested that a six month hiatus would be in order, and that this would start at the beginning of the summer, more or less, it wasn't hard to imagine myself being up at the cottage for as much of it as possible. In this time of letting go and moving toward new things, there has been for me a strong sense that God is calling me to a time of deep rest. To just be for a bit. Not to put too much on the calendar. Not to expect too much of myself. To release the sense of responsibility and availability the pastoral life demands, and just sit in unhurried ways for a bit, to listen. To grieve what I've left behind. To prepare for what's to come.
A big part of this for me is to refocus on the self care of eating properly, exercising more expansively, and just being quiet. This deep invitation by God is matched by deep longing in my soul. I am curious to know who will emerge from this extended time of sabbath.
3. Directed Reading and Research
I'm working, ever so slowly, on this Masters of Divinity degree at Tyndale University and Seminary. Ever. So. Slowly. During the time of my life when I was fully engaged as the pastor of a local church, I was really only able to do one, maybe two credits per year. Now, with just five more to go, I am hoping, planning, exited to think about getting this done in good time.
For right now, I have been approved to earn a needed Christian Education Elective credit through something called a Directed Reading and Research course. Basically, I will be working with a professor towards the out-of-class work described in the syllabus we have created together. The fancy title for this course is "Incarnational Cross-Cultural Christian Education: Strategies Toward Reciprocal Learning". I don't blame you if that doesn't sound as thrilling to you as it does to me, but I am actually really pumped about it!!! It includes a six week 'on the ground' component where I will be at Hot Springs actually teaching. And it includes a final research paper that touches on some of the passions I've been developing in incarcational ministry, that maybe, hopefully, perhaps could end up being expanded into a body of work that might actually be helpful in this field.
This is already underway and I'm already putting time and brain power towards it. And if all goes well, it will all be completed around the same time as the six months is done.
Of course. It goes without saying that with six months 'free' my heart would pull me to the other side of the world. Truth is, I miss them all the time, I just do. So two trips are planned within this six months. One will be a shorter trip in July, and then the six week stint described above.
Already, even in preparing for July, I am thoroughly enjoying the time I have to give better preparation to sermons and lessons taught while there. I have been told by Thais that the general impression is that Western Christians are better theologically trained than their Asian counterparts, mostly, only because of available schools and resources. I am not entirely convinced this is true. Either way, it seems only fitting to share what little experience and education I have been given with Suradet and Yupa, the children, the dear folks at Hot Springs Church, and perhaps other pastors who badly need encouragement and training. Encouraging other Thai pastors is another growing passion of my heart.
All this is the beginning formation of the role of Missionary In Residence. Even though I won't be back at Highview until December, the ministry in Thailand continues and I will be doing more of the work I love in supporting what Suradet and Yupa are doing with our kids.
5. Other Wonderful Things
In a more general way, there are lots of things that will keep me occupied any time I'm not doing what I've just described. For example, our house needs a lot of work. I have a list for that too (and yes, you just heard my husband groan).
As well, it will be very lovely for me to be able to be more of a 'Go to Gramma' for PD Days, sick days, and other school holidays. The priority of being a energetic part of my grandchildren's lives can now have more room.
So that's what I think will keep me moving, growing, leading, loving, and otherwise occupied from the end of May until the beginning of December. It's a lovely list.
And as I have often said, I am unspeakably grateful for the abundant life I am living. I could never have imagined it. Really.
Makes me curious to see what God's got in mind for this next phase of my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment