Sabbatical by Bryan Craig
Sabbatical
sab·bat·i·cal
/səˈbadək(ə)l/
noun
a period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or other worker for study or travel, traditionally one year for every seven years worked.
But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Luke 5:15-16 ESV
One thing I have always appreciated about Influencers and about Rocky is that this ministry “practices what we preach.” When we say the MOST important thing is our intimate, abiding relationship with Christ, we mean it. Also, when we say a person should Live it Out FIRST to their spouse and family, we mean it. I have witnessed this and lived it for the past 8-1/2 years on staff as Executive Director, but really from the very beginning of my involvement 19 years ago.
The Global Board surprised me a few months ago by encouraging me and supporting me to take a one-month Sabbatical. This is something I have heard about, but I have never experienced. I’ve heard of many different approaches to a Sabbatical, but it is intended to be a time of unplugging, time with family, time of reflection. The word “sabbatical” and “sabbath” both come from the Greek root word “sabbaton.” Sabbaton itself traces to the Hebrew word shabbāth, meaning “rest.”
What an unusually countercultural concept in this day of fast food, constant communication, loaded calendars and performance-orientation. And that goes for ministers and businessmen alike. I’m an “A” type personality. On the Enneagram, I test #1, the perfectionist. So, it is a challenge for me to even grasp this concept. I’ve been in the workforce for 36 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever taken more than 7 or 8 workdays off consecutively. I wouldn’t say I’m a workaholic, but I like to stay busy.
But I feel like this is an invitation. In this year, when I’m seeking MORE of God, and I see His Holy Spirit teaching me more about Himself, it seems perfect timing. And in this time where we are planning a major movie project which could propel our ministry to a much larger audience, much prayer is needed. It is also a season for me of self-reflection and contemplation of the future. I’ve got a stack of books to consider reading since I will have some extra time, one of them being Bob Buford’s “Half Time” which I’ve always heard about but never read. I told a friend of mine that and he said, “I hate to tell you this, but you are past half time. You’re at the end of the 3rd Quarter!” You have to love your friends who speak truth.
I also had a stack of devotionals I use by the late Selwyn Hughes, “Every Day with Jesus,” and I randomly grabbed one for the month. It happens to be focused on Jesus’ prayer in John 17. The very first day talks about how Jesus would often withdraw from the disciples and the crowds for quiet times of prayer. In fact, when he was about to call the first disciples, it says he prayed all night long. (See Luke 6:12-13) If our Lord Jesus needed this time, why wouldn’t we? Again, I believe God is inviting me to spend more time with Him.
If you have done The Journey, you know that we believe in extended times of prayer. At the end of Enlightened, we take participants away for a retreat and turn them loose for 3 hours of prayer. It always intimidates people, but universally, they end up talking about what a fulfilling experience it is, and they wonder why they don’t do that more often. Yes, it’s this busy culture that crowds out important things and people, including the Creator of the Universe, who wants time with us! By the way, if you haven’t heard the acronym for BUSY, it’s “Being Under Satan’s Yoke.”
So, I ask you to pray for me during this month, and I’ll be praying for you, as well, as God brings you to my mind. And I encourage you to keep Seeking Him, Abiding in Him and fighting for time with Him. As I think of my time this month, I thought of the picture I attached, which is from a bucket-list trip 17 years ago when my wife took me to Scotland for my 40th birthday and I was standing in the place where Braveheart was filmed. It was beautiful and brought my soul inspiration. Unfortunately, I’m not going to Scotland this month (although that would have been a great idea) but I’m approaching this Sabbatical as my face and posture in this picture.
Lord, have Your way with me. Show me what I need to see. Help me hear what I need to hear. Help me rest, refresh, enjoy my family, enjoy Your creation. Prepare me for this next chapter of my life and the history of Influencers and my role in it. Thank you for inviting me to be with You and for arranging it. I love you, Lord.