February 13, 2012 was my first Sabbatical ever. I didn’t fully understand the definition of it. All I know is when a person is on sabbatical, he/she cease from working. I was not planning for this sabbatical but a few months ago, my friend Donna encouraged me to take one and do some writings.
So I contacted our friends from the Crossroads Baptist Association whom I met in November last year (2011). I was planning to take the sabbatical in January but it did not work out for them. Rather, they provided me and my wife (she will be staying with me till this coming weekend) a very nice hotel room in the Highland Lakes next to their chapel and dining room free of charge from 2/13-2/23. In addition, I found out that the entire 400-acre camp is empty till the weekend (we’re all alone!). On the way to the place, I just realized that it’s Valentine week. What a perfect time to be with my wife in a camp just by ourselves! I thought to myself that a sabbatical is when things divinely aligned to take away your stress and worries.
So, we got in the room without TV and microwave oven (but with WiFi) and found ourselves asking each other the same question, “What do you do when you are on sabbatical?” Do you read, write, eat, sleep and do the same thing again for the next several days or weeks? I thought that could be boring. I fell asleep as I was thinking.
After an hour nap (I don’t normally take naps), I put on my boots and explored the camp. I saw wild animals frolicking around, tall leafless trees, empty cabins, a couple of lakes and totally silent surrounding except for the beautiful sounds of the forest…birds chirping, water rolling down the streams and the gentle wind as it pass through the branches and the leaves on the ground.
Then, some inspirations about writing my book whiz by my mind. Suddenly, I was drawn to peak through one of the Retreat Centers. The backyard was of course wooded area and had a few empty bird feeders. I saw a creek by one of the trails I and took several pictures around me. I turned on my iPod to listen to music on my way back to my room.
So, here I am at the Welcome center of the camp writing this blog in front glass windows. I am looking right now at the trees with branches covered with snow. Next to me are bottled water, an orange, an apple and a jar of peanut butter. My wife just fixed me a hot cup of coffee.
Maybe you don’t really plan what you’re going to do when you are in sabbatical. Just enjoy the surroundings, listen to nature and speak to God. Once He speaks, you just need to listen and then follow His lead. He knows what you need to do when you are on sabbatical.