Comments on: Sabbatical, Day 29: From Mountain To Valley With A Bump

By: David Faulkner

David Faulkner — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:20:52 +0000

Tony,

Thanks for your wisdom. I guess I felt like no study whatsoever was being done, and I was so looking forward to that!

As to re-entry, I wish I’d had the advice you gave when my sabbatical support group was meeting. We were aware that prior to the sabbatical beginning I would have taken only one of my five weeks off for the year, and it was felt wrong that I should go off again a few weeks after returning. Hence I ended up tacking the second of my five weeks onto the end of the sabbatical, and I’m taking three weeks in August.

By: Tony Buglass

Tony Buglass — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:49:29 +0000

Two sabbatical-related thoughts. First, one of the points of the sabbatical is to be there for your family in a way which normal circuit ministry often precludes. Your references to “sabbatical work” gives me the impression that you feel you’re losing the balance you wanted. Don’t panic, Mr Mainwaring! It should return to normal at some point – and if it doesn’t, so what?

Second, about re-entry. Our District has a sabbatical committee, and we invite everyone who has a sabbatical to report back afterwards. Not only does it feed into the thinking of those planning their sabbaticals, but it helps us to identify problems. Re-entry is a problem – having heard several tales of ministers returning to a clutch of funerals, stressful crises, etc, we advised that on return from sabbatical you book a holiday! Even if it’s just a few days off, about 2-4 weeks after coming back to work,take time out to get your breath back. Hearing subsequent reports (and having done it myself last year) I can say it is good advice.

Most importantly, enjoy where you are now – even with sick kids, you are on sabbatical, you’re not having to dash out to committees and things, you can be there for them. Let the study take its place in the queue.

By: David Faulkner

David Faulkner — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:58:05 +0000

Thanks, Olive. We’ve kept Mark off school today, even though he looks quite bright. We want to ensure the ear infection really does go away this time. We won’t send him for his weekly lesson with the swimming school on Wednesday, nor will we permit him to have his school swimming lesson on Thursday. The nurse practitioner was very clear with me on Saturday night that we must keep his ear covered up and warm. Swimming wouldn’t help that. We trust the school will be sympathetic. His teacher certainly was this morning when Debbie spoke to her.

As to your other comment, we obviously need to create some conduit for contagion!

By: Olive Morgan

Olive Morgan — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:30:13 +0000

I’m glad to hear that Mark is feeling better.. he hasn’t had it easy, has he?
I know the feeling you are trying to describe and wonder why we can’t manage to connect with others who have ‘the fever’, so that we don’t feel it ‘being sucked out’ of us?

By: David Faulkner

David Faulkner — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:39:38 +0000

Jenny,

I’m glad the words spoke to you. I hope there is a positive outcome from them.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:35:17 +0000

“There have been many times over the years when I have felt that slowly suck the life out of me. In such circumstances, regular outside support is vital. Sometimes it’s easy to come by, but not always. Even when it is available, it emphasises the disconnect painfully, and has to be channelled into a passion for change.”

David, I can’t stop reading these words. They really speak to me. Thank you.