Itinerary for a Sabbatical?!

You may find yourself thinking, "is Ryan going to nap and binge Netflix shows for 3 months?!" While I find some appeal to that plan, that is NOT what I'll be doing.

As stated in the previous blog, there needs to be preparation, intentionality, and some experimenting to really experience rest with all the life God offers through it. With two years of experimenting with a weekly Sabbath (a 24 hour period to stop work, productivity, and performance, and to direct one's attention to God's presence in solitude and in community) , I've discovered what works and what doesn't. Thank God that I can use my failures and tap into God's grace over those two years to intentionally think about how I may do this for 3 months!

A few things for you to know before I lay out my Sabbatical plan for you:

1. My default was to over plan and dream BIG in fear that the 3 months would be too ordinary

2. The ordinary is real life. Ordinary is every day. Ordinary is most people's experience. Ordinary IS extraordinary when we shift our perspective to the reality that God does beautiful work in ordinary. Apart from Sabbatical, I don't want to follow a God that I can only expect to show up in high moments, big moments, fast moments, and singular event moments. Why? Because that's not real every day life. Certainly I'm not alone in feeling shame, doubt, or anger when most of my week is ordinary and it feels like God is absent! I want to experience a life time with God in ALL things.

3. I've come to the realization that I need to hold intentionality and ordinary in tension as I plan and experience my Sabbatical. Intentionally creating space and moments to invite the Spirit to move, speak, and shape is crucial for our formation! While God doesn't always need consent to do a work within us and in the world, it sure does benefit us. Going into a day of rest with no plan, intentionality, or giving genuine consent to God, will ultimately lead to a less-than-ideal day. God LOVES partnership with us, but He will also make us lay down in green pastures (Psalm 23).

4. Out of the 3 months of my Sabbatical, only 1 month will be filled with "special" events that I planned to accomplish some goals of solitude, learning, rest, and investment in relationships. I am fully aware that I may hit a day in a long stretch of "ordinary" days when I start to feel lonely and disappointed by an apparent lack of revelation or presence from God. Pray with me as I experience those days. I know there is something God wants to do in me during those times.

Sabbatical Plan for April 19-July 21:

1. Orange Conference in Atlanta (a conference for next gen ministry leaders)

orangeconference.com

2. School of Formation Retreat in New York City (to end my 8 month cohort)

newlifesof.nyc/

3. Intentional time with family in Nebraska

4. Solitude Retreat at Saint John's Abbey in Minnesota

• time alone in prayer, Scripture, and silence

• receiving spiritual direction

5. Five sessions or so of marriage counseling

• Not as a reaction to crisis, but as a decision to gain wisdom from a trained therapist, and lean into forever with one another as we turn toward one another daily

• Note: therapy can be helpful for anyone no matter the season of life you're experiencing. A good therapist will listen well, ask good questions, help you process, and expand your toolbox of healing!

6. Reading a couple books as I enter into the next season of student ministry

• Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

• The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni
  

7. Writing my blog for reflection (thanks for joining me on the journey!)

8. Worshipping corporately with other local churches in Sioux Falls

9. Attempting to build a new deck (Lord have mercy!)

If you have any questions or want to contribute Sabbatical ideas that you've heard of or done, leave a comment below!

As always, thanks for being here. <3

Peace,

Ryan