"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage." Psalm 84:5
“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...
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...
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 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...
PURPOSE: This blog exists to share experiences, insights, and applications, related to Jim's 2025 Sabbatical.
BACKGROUND: In August of 2024, Jim received a Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Grant that will allow him to take a Sabbatical for the summer of 2025. The Grant encourages ways to have the congregation engaged in the Pastor's leave. This blog is a means of informing and engaging the church.
FOCUS: The theme of the Lilly Grant was "What makes your heart sing?" Jim's proposal focused on the idea of drawing close to God and being spiritually renewed through adventure and new experiences, both of which energize him.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: Jim's Sabbatical will have three separate sections. The first will be a trip to Europe where he will walk the 490 mile Camino de Santiago and then spend time at a monastery in Montserrat to process his journey. He will also visits some other sites in Europe and see his son Trevor in Germany before returning home. The second section of his Sabbatical will be to hike and then whitewater raft through the Grand Canyon with his son, Timothy. The final stage of his Sabbatical will be to take a two week cruise from Fiji to Sydney, Australia. This will include snorkeling and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef.
SPIRITUAL GOALS: During his break, Jim will have periods of rest, and he has a reading list of 15 books that he hopes to complete. He also will have extended times of solitude, worship, and prayer, in order to seek and walk in God's presence. He will also be meeting with a Spiritual Director during and after his Sabbatical to process what the Lord is doing in His life during this time away.
OUTCOMES: The hope is that by the end of Jim's Sabbatical he will come back renewed and spiritually energized to lead Palm West with a fresh vision for the future.
