Sabbatical Reflections

REST
I’ve been thinking and doing some light study on the cycles of rest and work that God designed. I am convinced that we, in the church, have become conformed to the world’s pattern rather than God’s. Whenever a suggestion is made to transform to God’s pattern, the world’s pattern is thrown at us as an example of what “normal” should be and it is understood that anything less is somehow wrong, lazy, unsuccessful, poor work ethic, etc.
There’s much that could be written on this, but, as I’m on Sabbatical, I’m not going to take the time to go into teaching mode and produce teaching on this, this is for another time.
Here’s what I have discovered: God has designed us to engage in hard work, but effective work only comes when we trust Him enough to engage in the pattern He designed for work and not conform to the world’s pattern. Much like tithing, it doesn’t make sense that giving at least 10% away would give us greater effectiveness in stewarding the other 90%, but it does.
Much the same, when we engage in God’s pattern for rest and work, our work becomes more effective rather than less.
Here are some principles I’ve written down for myself:
1. God’s design for rest does not mean that I don’t work hard the rest of the time.
2. There seems to be a three-fold pattern for rest:
a. A weekly rest – Sabbath
b. An annual (or several month) rest – Celebrations
c. A multi-year rest – Sabbatical
3. These rest times are different from vacation times
a. Vacations are for connecting with family
b. Rest periods are for ensuring health for the journey
4. These times contain three things:
a. Physical Rest – we don’t get enough sleep
b. Renewal of Soul and spirit
c. Reflection and listening to the Spirit

Wed – see Journal on the Jones’ place trip.

We’ve been spending a few hours every morning playing board games in the shop. We open the big door and let the breeze rush in.

We’ve also enjoyed a few night time thunderstorms. Not big enough to scare or do damage, but lots of flash and noise to give me my fix. ☺