A Beacon
Today, I was in a town at a busy intersection, and I got turned around. I couldn’t find any arrows, and I couldn’t discern which of the five possible directions I was supposed to...
Jim's Journal Blog
Helps and Hindrances
On the Camino, what you pack becomes a bit of a game. Walking 500 miles while carrying your supplies in a backpack means constantly balancing between keeping your pack as light as possible and...
Colors
Today marked another transition in my journey. I left the mountains, forests, wine country, and animals behind as I entered an area known as the Meseta. The Meseta is a plateau in central Spain...
Grit or Quit
Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” A few months ago, I donated blood. At the end, there was a phlebotomist giving me the usual instructions....
Open Spaces
About nine months before Stephanie died, I was meeting with my spiritual director, and he asked me a question. The question was, “What do you want?” This is a question Christians are sometimes hesitant...
Walking with God
As a means of seeking God during my sabbatical, one of my goals is to read the entire Bible over the course of the summer. Yesterday, I finished the book of Genesis. As I...
Beyond the Fear of Failing
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” — Psalm 37:5 One of the lessons the Lord has continually taught me over the years is the importance of stepping...
The Camino: A Thirteen Hundred Year Tradition
“Walking the Camino de Santiago is a moment when everything comes to life, including your soul.” – Paulo Coelho This summer, a main part of my sabbatical will be walking the Camino de Santiago, specifically...
Sabbatical as a Pilgrimage
As I prepare for my sabbatical, I’m doing so through the lens of a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken for spiritual reasons—often to a sacred place—with the purpose of drawing closer to God. The...
Themes of My Sabbatical
The Lily Foundation Clergy Renewal Grant that I applied for, and received, was based on the theme of, “What Makes Your Heart Sing.” In other words, what makes you come alive in order that...
The Why Behind Sabbaticals
The Blessing of a Sabbatical: For the Pastor and the Church In ministry, the demands on a pastor’s time, energy, and emotional well-being can be constant and intense. That’s not to say that other...