Blessed

This week I am attending an event billed as a clergy sabbath.   It includes a bit of education on the theme of peace and balance, an opportunity to do some renewal/wellness/wholeness things (like drum circles and massages and conversation with a spiritual advisor) and it includes a number of worship opportunities.

Not surprisingly, everyone is asking me about my upcoming sabbatical, so I've had conversations with a dozen or so people about it.  Everyone agrees it is a wonderful opportunity, a trip of a lifetime.   In our sessions I've explored how it fits into where I am now, and how the trip I am going on feeds parts of my being that might have been neglected during my first eight years as pastor.

Last night at vespers we were asked how we are blessed, how we are receiving blessing in our lives, and I was overwhelmed by the understanding of how deep how special this blessing of the sabbatical is, both as a gift from my congregation and from the Lilly Endowment.    I am glad to be fed in this way, I feel privileged and blessed to experience a kind of travel that is truly unusual and unique.   I thank God for the way it is coming together.

I find myself feeling blessing and gratitude these days more than I usually do; more fully and more deeply.  It reminds me of my first days of ministry, fresh from seminary when every task, every meeting, every service seemed a wonderful gift from God.  I am contemplating ways I can extend this wonderful experience of gratitude and blessing, even beyond contemplating my sabbatical.   Perhaps it is time to return to the Examen as a spiritual practice.

Today my greatest consolation was spending time with my favorite sister, Lisa Hamm-Greenawalt, and seeing her for a few hours before she and my brother in law, Bob head back to Mexico City.   My greatest desolation was having to do some collections associated with my small craft-based business. But even that went well.  It was a good day.  Amen.  'Nuff said.