There I was wishing I had a baseball bat. No matter what I tried or did the copier would not do what I wanted it to do. I yelled at it, kicked it, and made threats I could never uphold. I was DONE.
An hour later, I was thankful, and a little embarrassed when my pastor walked into my office
with a $5 Starbucks gift card and said, “It looks like the copier won today, have a little treat on me.”
We’ve all had bad days and rough weeks, but what if you’re stuck in a rut or on the verge of burnout? While a vacation could ease the pain the solution is a sabbatical.
It’s with a sabbatical where you can find the focus and energy you need to do ministry for the long haul. Not sure you need one? Here are five signs you are due:
SIGN 1: Every electronic in your office from the copier to your computer has been possessed by Satan and his army of demons.
SIGN 2: All of your coworkers are eating stupid pills for breakfast
SIGN 3: Your email inbox has a virus that fills it up with time waisting emails
SIGN 4: No matter how hard you try you feel like your regressing in your ministry
SIGN 5: You ask yourself the question consistently, “Why am I doing this?
Typically sabbaticals last for 6 months – a year, but if we are honest our pastors might not go for it and we can’t afford to go on one with our own dime. The solution is to take a mini sabbatical (3-7 vacation days) to focus on:
HEALING
MARGIN
REPRIOTIZATION
To maximize those few days you have make sure your mini sabbatical:
Shuts out ALL the noise
You’ve got a lot of distractions from email to social media. If you want the most out of your mini-sabbatical you have to stay focused. Try:
- Deleting all your social media apps
- Putting up an away message on your email
- Give your phone to someone to monitor and screen your calls.
- Set up an away messag letting people know you are shutting it down.
While you could take your mini sabbatical at home try finding a place that’ll remove you from the distractions. That can be a:
- Vacation home that a family member or parishioner is willing to let you use
- Simple and quiet place to go camping (although don’t make it too adventurous…remember it’s not about doing)
- Nice hotel with special accommodations (i.e. spa) that isn’t located in your town or city
No matter where you go, you need to be able to get rid of the noise so that you can give your mind and body the ability to rest.
Gives you permission to dream big
Vacations are filled with doing, a sabbatical is spent focusing on what’s most important. What matters are the vision, goals and dreams God has placed on your heart. Take time to:
- Go for walks, runs or bike rides without the head phones
- Carry around with you a journal (I use the Wave Rocketbook)
- Hit up a spa, or take time to prayerfully meditate
- Pick up a book that challenges you to think beyond yourself (I’m currently reading Finish by Jon Acuff)
Whatever you do, don’t occupy your time with busyness. At the same time don’t sleep the day away. Give yourself permission to dream about the next 5-10 years and write it all down.
The purpose of the sabbatical isn’t just to find rest, but to refocus on where you need to go and what you need to do when you return to the working world.
Helps you reconnect with God
One of the reasons we hit a wall is because we’ve lost sight of our WHY? The best way to reconnect with that is by reconnecting with God.
While retreats do help, you’ll want something a little less structured. That means build in time to pray on your own or with someone who might be able to guide you. A few examples might be:
- Finding a quiet place to pray (i.e. adoration chapel)
- Picking up a daily devotional
- Meeting with a spiritual director
Whatever you choose make it consistent and allow God to be a part of the process.
Most of us can’t take a year to figure out where we need to go, but three days can get us started. If possible plan at least two a year so that you can get away from the noise, and refocus on what God is calling you to do, it’ll prepare you for the next chapter of ministry.
How have you hit the reset button in ministry?
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