Sabbatical

Fields in Israel

Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word shabbat meaning to rest or literally “to cease.”  Sabbatical is mentioned several times in the Bible.  For instance, a sabbatical was recommended every seven years by God providing rest for the land and even the animals (Lev 25:1-7).  I’m no animal, but the rest is welcoming!

Rest is of course something God modeled Himself by resting on the seventh day after creating the world and everything in it.  And this idea of rest is something serious to God by even calling us to have rest one day per week.

Bottom line, I’m grateful to my elders for granting me six weeks for sabbatical rest.  For the first three weeks, I will be touring Israel.  Denise and I are leading 20 other friends on a tour of Israel.  To follow along on our adventure, see my Israel blog at ccfinisrael.com.  We will be viewing all the big locations mentioned in the Bible such as Jerusalem, Jordan River, and Sea of Galilee.  I’ll be with the team for two weeks and then I stay on one more week for some touring by myself.  In fact, I am staying in guest houses with nuns and then Messianic Jews!

The second half of my sabbatical will include things closer to home.  I’d like to do a little gardening, some hiking, and some fishing.  Getting outside and enjoying God in creation will certainly be restorative for me.

I plan to lean into this favorite verse from Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”