Transitions 2 – Blog Sabbatical
First and foremost, thanks to all those who have been sending notes and posting comments about our upcoming move. You’ve all be incredibly gracious and supportive, and it’s been cool to connect in this way with folks I’ve known since college and others that I don’t know at all except for our shared time on the internet. 🙂 I appreciate it greatly.
Second, I’ve decided to take a sabbatical from the blog. That’s not been an easy decision, as I’m just plain embarrassed by how much I’ve come to love this way of interacting with you all and thinking about the faith. The daily devotions – which started as a Lenten discipline and offering – have become an important part of my own engagement with the Scriptures, and the other articles have not only validated my ADD temperament (seriously) but have also stretched me and helped to focus my own sense of call as one who provides resources and encouragement to everyday Christians and their leaders.
But I’m currently in the first of three week-long intensive courses and also sorting through and packing (hopefully the best of!) what we’ve accumulated over thirteen years in a house with an attic and basement. 🙂 This has become pretty much a full time job on top of my regular work and has just made it really difficult to give the couple of hours each day to maintaining the blog.
In addition, I’ve missed the second deadline for my next (and probably final) Making Sense book (on the Christian life). I’ve never, ever been so late with a deadline and am both disappointed and a little embarrassed by that, so I have committed to finishing that as soon as possible once we’ve settled in Pennsylvania.
All of which means that the time seems right to take break from my regular engagement on this website as well as from answering email whenever possible. I’ll post only occasionally, certainly when I have another transition announcement to make and/or if something strikes me that I just can’t help but share. 🙂 But I won’t do the daily devotions for a time nor expect to post anything more than very infrequently.
My expectation is that this sabbatical will run no less than one month and hopefully not more than three, as I already look forward to our regular engagement around matters of Scripture and faith and hope that we can start again in the fall.
Thanks for understanding. Thanks for reading. Thanks for your prayers and support. And most especially, thanks for living your faith in daily life.
Yours in Christ,
David
David,
Congratulations and blessings on your transitions. The working preacher website and your own personal remarks to preachers are the first thing I turn to and usually “spark” an idea for a sermon. You have been a great blessing to us and I rejoice that God is leading you to another phase of your journey. I look forward to going to my first Luther Preaching Event this Oct. I remember when you came out to Christikon- what a great week. May God continue to give you wisdom as you seek to discern how best to use your wonderful, creative gifts.
Blessings,
Pastor Brad Ulgenes
St. John’s Lutheran – Helena MT.
PS Pastor Phil Wold , Sheridan WY,and I have been thinking of writing a book entitled: “30 Seconds with God: A Brief Devotional Guide for ADD Pastors.” Unfortunately it’s probably 20 seconds to long and we can’t seem to “center ” our creative thoughts to get started! ha! Go easy on yourself, David, with missing the deadline for your book, you have published enough for a lifetime compared to others! (except Luther! and you’re no Luther- you’ve got better hair!ha! )Say hi to Rolf from the Mill Creek Institute Boys from Chico Montana! If you need a break- Big Sky Country has a place for youse guys to get some R & R and pretty good beer from our local breweries.
Hmm. Missing a deadline for “Making Sense of the Christian Life” because you are so deeply embedded in leading the Christian life 😉 … I think you’ll need to allow yourself a little slack here.
Will miss the blog, and miss you.
I’m also in transition (again)… Ministry is my third “career” – first restaurants and parenting, then office and administration, and now I’m between student life and full time pastor (pending congregational vote). The “packing up the house” part is the one I hate the most. At least with this transition I only have to move into an apartment 90 minutes away. The transition part is spending five days away from my spouse each week and making all that work.
I don’t envy you the moving/sorting part. Praying for all to go as smoothly as it can. God’s blessing on the move and on you and your family.
Peace, Sharon
PS – Enjoy the craziness of June intensive!
I’m sure everyone will miss the blog tremendously. I know I will. Just wanted to say that so you know how much it will be missed!!
Well blessings on the transitions… as I’m one of those whom has never met you, yet find your blog and working preacher writings invaluable. I meet weekly with a group of guys and use your blog to reflect and talk about faith and life, and working preacher for fodder ideas for preaching. I will miss these ways of inspiring faith and life conversation. So… blessings and I look forward to your return.
Blessings be on you as you enter another stage of your spiritual(as well as physical ) journey.
David,
Thanks for your ministry of encouragement and stretching of others. I appreciate your openness about the time crunch your under and pray that you will find the time you need to complete all the tasks required to move and still find time for your family. God’s blessings for farewells, safe travel, new places and people, and reconnections.
Thank You David for all you have done and will do in the future….. As a new Pastor, your writings have been a great help to me, and I am sure to many others. Best wishes on your move, we will miss you for a while….. But I have learned that breaks like this are needed and often we return from them with renewed enthusiasm. And again….. Thank You! !
Continued blessings on your transition, David! We’ll definitely miss your blog but hope you’ll be back at it when things clear up a bit… ha!
God’s peace!
Peter