Sabbatical Begins

As some of you know, this week I begin a 6-month sabbatical from my work with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship! This is a gracious gift offered to paid employees after 7 sequential years of service (it’s been 8.5 for me), and I’ve been looking forward to it for quite some time. Already, I have deactivated all of my social media profiles, set up work email’s autoresponder, and deleted any work-related apps off of my phone. Beyond that, during this sabbatical I am looking forward more time to read, write, pray, sleep, be outside, do small house projects, and spend time with my family.

This Sunday I was reflecting on the concept of fasting, i.e., abstaining from something (usually food) for a designated period of time, usually with the goal of gaining greater spiritual focus, clarity, insight, or depth. And in some ways, I think that a sabbatical (a period of “fasting” from work) is very similar to a period of fasting from food.

Like food, work was designed by God as a good thing for humans to have and to enjoy–both existed in the Garden of Eden before sin entered the world. However, we see in our present world that humans have a broken relationship with both of these things in many ways. Thus fasting and sabbaticals (or even just a weekly Sabbath) are crucial spiritual disciplines to remind ourselves as humans that ultimately these things are not where our identity can be found, but rather in being children of God. Both fasting and sabbaticals are deeply biblical, and we can see periods of both fasting and rest (sometimes both at the same time!) being commanded of God’s people throughout Scripture.

For myself, I have always been a high achiever and a hard worker, ever since entering school 25 years ago and the workforce 10 years ago. I am a little scared but mostly eager for these next 6 months to rest and to reflect deeply on who I am when I am not achieving something. It’s for that reason that I have kept my goals and plans fairly minimal for this time–I could of course take a seminary course or start a side hustle, but then I would still feel tempted by the idol of productivity. I am instead going to try my best to embrace the gift of rest and all that God has for me.

If you are the praying sort, please pray for God to meet me during the next six months. Thank you!