Sabbatical: Week 3

Staff meeting begins with a devotional. Back on January 2, we gathered to catch up after Christmas and look out to a new year. The calendar is full with activity, meetings and events, but it appeared to be running over this time. We each noted, in our own way, the three fewer persons in the room. One way to think of our Regional structure (that is denominational specific speak for religious middle judicatory) is through the lens of a non-profit. In my denominational expression of Christianity, Regions are a melting pot of services: information management, age appropriate events, retreats, and summer camp, leadership development, resource filter, and counseling spiced with conflict resolution, congregations seeking another minister, ministers seeking another congregation, and listening for the call of God in the lives of those desiring to serve in ordained ministry or commission ministry. Yes, many days it is a run-on sentence, and even on the bad days it is what I am called to do.

Dwindling dollars given by congregations and individuals to keep our melting pot gently boiling forced the Region to downsize two part-time employees, and one full-time Associate Regional Minister. Downsizing, right-sizing, layoffs, furlough, fired is happening in many places: non-profit, for-profit, and public. That decision, based in budget numbers not performance, placed a burden on those loosing their jobs in our office and on the deciders. Like closing a church, death, leaving a job, changing attitude, changing behavior, or saying goodbye, it is all grief work and it is hard.

So, with a melting pot set to simmer and a calendar boiling over, we gathered for staff meeting. The devotion invited us to pull a star from a box of stars, twenty or so in the box, and each one had a different word on it. That word would help guide me during the coming year. We each took a turn drawing a star. You may have done something similar. As luck, karma, fate, the universe’s sense of humor, or God would have it, I pulled “humility”. A long time ago, I scored INTP on the Myers-Briggs (my companion scored INFJ). I was experiencing humility just sitting at the table that day. That star made me laugh, a little nervous laugh like when a joke or parable turns into a teaching moment. And then I thought of Mac Davis’s song, “It’s Hard to Be Humble”.

Humility (def): freedom from pride or arrogance : the quality or state of being humble

(def for English language learners) the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people : the quality or state of being humble

(Merriam-Webster Online: humility, accessed January 22, 2019. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humility)

As my third week of sabbatical begins I am aware that I have not gotten the hang of it, and may not. Last week, sitting around the table in my parent’s house, my father asked me how I was doing with my sabbatical. I responded, “I’m not sure I’m doing it right or will do it right. Try as I might not to be a workaholic your example kinda rubbed off on me.” Then, pop said what I knew was coming, “You’ve got to have the Right Mental Attitude, Mike.” That was comforting, but he went on. “I worked a lot of hours that didn’t mean anything to the company or the customers, and missed out on some of you and your sister’s growing up. I did the job the way I thought it was right to do. That made me feel proud, but I missed some things. I can’t go back, but I know you can learn when to say that’s enough for you. You gotta find the balance, son.” My companion and I are childless by choice. I’m the oldest of two. My sister and I were always encouraged to reach for the next rung on the ladder of personal achievement and enrichment. My father is still teaching his 50 plus year old son.

Here in week three, my writing projects are on schedule. I’m self publishing three books through Apple Books. Sacred Steps, is a resource to help create the children’s sermon/moment, or for Sunday school conversation, or for the preacher wanting a different perspective. Each book follows a year of the Lectionary. The books available from a link on this blog soon; and two can be found in the iBook store right now. Oklahoma Disciples congregations and clergy can get it for free (next month). All others the books are $10. And, I’ve digitized a Word Search Puzzle book I created during my congregational days for children to use during worship. The puzzles are biblical stories. That too will be available from this site. The children’s bulletin project may wait until sabbatical segment 2.

I’ve done a bit of reading, my thought projects are percolating, and the gift of a turn-table from my parents has allowed me to unpack my vinyl collection which hasn’t been played in 15 years. My companion and I are not using the formal dining room as much as we want which is totally within out control. Confession: we spend more time eating in front of the TV and other screens rather than dining. And, I’ve broken sabbatical a couple of times, not more than thirty minutes, to handle details that could not be pre-programmed before January 7, and cannot wait until February 2. More of that will happen.

This week a friend and colleague will visit for a couple of days, and I’ll see clergy colleagues and friends at an educational event at Phillips Theological Seminary. I scheduled my sabbatical segment 1 departure float (H2O Float) for February 1. These words from the marketing guy I like, Seth Godin, resonate today.

Don’t steal metrics
A thoughtful friend has a new project, and decided to integrate a podcast into it.

Talking to a producer, he said that his goal was to make it a “top 10 podcast on iTunes.”

Why is that the goal?

That’s a common goal, a popular goal, someone else’s goal.

The compromises necessary to make it that popular (in dumbing down the content, sensationalizing it, hunting down sort-of-famous guests and doing a ton of promo) all fly in the face of what the project is for.

It’s your project.

It’s worth finding your metrics.

Seth Godin, “Don’t steal metrics”. January 16, 2019
, January 22, 2019. Category: Michael D, Sabbatical.

Sabbatical Time: Segment 1

“What About Bob,” is one of my favorite movies. Bill Murray plays Bob, a guy with some issues about all sorts of things. On several occasions Bob grabs a brown bag and places it over his mouth as if he is about to vomit. After a moment, he says, “False alarm.” That sums up how I feel about sabbatical, even as the first day of my first segment begins, today. So, I’ve got that going for me.

I’m also starting sabbatical with this thought from Seth Godin.

The Spiderman Paradox

On one hand, Uncle Ben’s rule makes great sense: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

The essence of the rule is that once you have great power, you need to take the responsibility that goes with it.

And yet, it’s backfiring.

It’s backfiring because so many walk away from their great power. They walk away because they don’t want the responsibility.

We have the power to vote, but decide to stay home and whine.
The power to publish, but click instead.
The power to lead, but follow meekly.
The power to innovate, but ask for rules of thumb instead.
The power to lend a hand, but walk away.

Most people watch videos, they don’t make them. Most people read tweets, they don’t write them. Most people walk away from the chance to lead online and off, in our virtual communities and with the people down the street.

In a democracy, we each have more power to speak up and to connect than we imagine. But most people don’t publish their best work or seek to organize people who care. Most of the time, it’s far easier to avert our eyes or blame the system or the tech or the dominant power structure.

There are millions who insist we’d be better off with a monarchy. The main reason: what happens after that is no longer their responsibility. Go work for the man, it saves you from having to be responsible.

When the local business disappears, it’s because we didn’t shop there. When the local arts program fades away, it’s because we watched Netflix instead. And when the local school persists in churning out barely competent cogs for the industrial system, it’s because we didn’t speak up.

Culture is what we build, and that’s powerful.

(Seth Godin, “The Spiderman Paradox.” January 5, 2019)

I will write more during sabbatical. Some of that will show up here. I posted last month about my thought projects for my sabbatical segments. No doubt, some of that will show up here. I’ve got a reading list as well. It is an ambitious list for me. I read slowly. Yes, my mother took my sister and I to the library as children, though I wanted to be outside goofing off, jumping my bike over, anything, anything other than reading, outside or inside. And, I think I have some dyslexia which was self diagnosed long before there were Holiday Inn Express commercials. For me, reading takes a lot of concentration and it puts me to sleep even when it is a piece I that interests me. Yet, I spend a lot of time reading news and resources. Rather than sit and read, initially, I will be reading at my standing desk. Here is my reading list.

Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography.

iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy–and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood–and What That Means for the Rest of Us
Jean M. Twenge

Will Our Children Have Faith
John H. Westerhoff
This is a book I revisit each year that was foundational reading for Religion majors during my time at TCU.

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
Neil Postman

Leading Change: Church Leadership Amid Turmoil (dvd)
Dr. Peter L. Steinke

From Father to Son: Wisdom for the Next Generation
Allen Appel

A Walk in the Woods
Bill Bryson

The Springsteen and Bryson books were gifts from my companion.

I am told by people that have experienced sabbatical that it is important to ritualize the beginning and end. This marks time and sets the tone for stepping away from work responsibilities that is different than going on vacation or holiday. When I lead a study trip or mission trip the first day is a separation day. At the end of the day during our examine time I ask, “What are you leaving behind to be fully present this week?” I am aware of what I am leaving, wait . . . false alarm. There are colleagues adding some of my responsibilities to their work. I’m a grateful for their gift. Some of my responsibilities will go on hiatus. I will mark my sabbatical segments with float time. What? Think sensory depravation tank.

My companion and I like roller coasters. Buckle up. Here I go.

, January 7, 2019. Category: Michael D, Sabbatical. Tagged: .
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