inspiration

SABBATICAL DAY 23: NEEDING TO SLOW DOWN

/ joseph elon lillie / 4 Comments

It is going to take me a while to sift through all that the Lord has shown me during this sabbatical. One of the things I have been contemplating heavily is the stage of life I am in now. John Eldredge talks about the six stages of manhood: boy, cowboy/ranger, warrior, lover, king, and sage.

Photo by Krivec Ales on Pexels.com

I am not sure the stages are cut and dried like steps on a stairway. I feel as if they undulate like the currents of the ocean, and that men move and back and forth between certain stages as they pass through their days. In some areas of my life I feel like I am in the “king” stage. In other areas of my life I feel like I have firmly entered the role of the “sage”.

For the first time in my life I feel like I have crossed into the arena of being “old”. That feeling is one of the things I am going to need to spend some time unpacking. It doesn’t feel bad, although there is a sense of loss that goes with it. Mostly it feels like something that I have long been waiting for is settling into place.

I think all the walking I have done during this sabbatical is partly responsible for this feeling. I have lost strength and stamina. I noticed it when I went to Hollis Hills the other day. I couldn’t keep up with the youngsters.

It has been a theme of the walks I have taken with the family this sabbatical. I used to take the lead. Now I am bringing up the rear. My son and I went for a walk last week and he had to slow his pace for me.

I know it’s a sign that I need to start being more mindful of my physical condition. One of the things I have put in place as part of my life rhythm is a daily stretching time (which seems to be helping with my flexibility) and a daily step count. They are atomic habits that I know will pay off over the long haul.

There are some benefits though of this reduced speed. I feel like I am seeing more.

I am noticing the colors of things, the scent of things and I am taking note of how the things around me are affecting me.

As I said there is a lot to consider as I come to the end of this time apart. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN FORCED TO SLOW DOWN?

SABBATICAL DAY 19: A DAY AWAY IN A NEW PLACE

/ joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

I have not done much in the way of entertainment during this sabbatical. Well ….that is not really true I have been enjoying some good reading,

and I finished this year’s season of The Rings Of Power.

I did write last week about going to the Fall Fest, but today I did something new in a new place and it was also entertaining!

My son and his wife invited me along on their excursion out to Hollis Hills Farm, In Fitchburg MA. They had never been and neither had I, but it came highly recommended.

I guess this is as good a time as any to talk about the transition coming up at the end of the month. Joe and Kristine put in an offer on a condo here in Winchendon and it was accepted. They are supposed to sign paperwork on Oct. 31st my last day of sabbatical. This means their move in date will probably be the weekend of Nov. 1st-3rd, my first weekend back at church.

I think I have been unconsciously preparing for the change all this month, practicing the quiet, and wondering what it will look like as far as a new rhythm of life at The Vicarage.

But today was all about the farm and enjoying the presence of my family.

We had lunch and ice cream in the park while listening to a cover band. I had hummus and vegetables and the kids had barbecue.

Then Sevy had to go see the cows and play on the tractors.

It was a great day. The kids finished up with ice cream and I had a blueberry soda.

SABBATICAL DAY 16: AUTUMN SHINES AT THE VICARAGE

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One of the things that has made this sabbatical so special is the amount of time I have had to spend at home working, resting and praying fresh vision for the future. The Vicarage is beautiful at this time of year. One of the spiritual exercises I have tried to practice these last sixteen days is to build on the beauty of this little piece of Earth entrusted to me, while being mindful of the wild beauty it already does possess.

I was on the phone with my sister the other day and she suggested that I should photo-document the sights at the Vicarage so that people can see what I am seeing and perhaps they will then understand some of the things I am thinking.

This is my neighbor Sing’s house.

Sing has done such a beautiful job with his yard. It seems always in bloom or full of color. He is someone with a real gift to make the most out of what he has. I hope to grow in that same direction and mindset.

The red maple tree out in back of The Vicarage has broken out into vivid color this week.

One of the projects I want to work on as part of beautifying the Vicarage is cleaning up this side yard and getting some trails cut into the wooded part of the Vicarage property to the left. I know it is too much to do this month, but part of the visioning process this month is to plan the way I want the forest garden to look in the Spring and to decide on the first steps come November.

When the sun shines through the colors of the trees, on these cool autumn mornings, it is hard not to feel hopeful about the future and about the eternal continuation of beauty. I am well aware of the precarious ledge of darkness our world is walking along right now, but in this little corner of the world the sun is shining bright. I know I can not take one day of sunlight for granted.

This leaf strewn pathway is one of the projects I began this summer. It leads out to the vernal brook which is dry most years after June. It reminds me of how much more potential is in this place. It just has to be spoken forth and created.

I am reminded that this season of autumn is quickly passing just like my sabbatical. Soon both will be passed. Then, it will be about beginning the work of bringing the future God has revealed, through this season of abiding, into reality.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE?