The Sabbatical

posted by: Brad

It has been 2 weeks since I left for Sabbatical.  It was a couple of days in the Florida Keys with a pop-up camper, a little food, Bible, journal and Jesus.  I really hoped that He would be there, otherwise it was going to be a lonely trip.

There is something refreshing about the drive to the Keys.  With the warm breeze blowing and the smell of salt air (all the while knowing the rest of the country was freezing) was great. 

When I got there, I set up camp.  People at campgrounds are not like me.  They go all the time, there was never a first time for these folks.  They have been camping since eternity past, so setting up a camper that I had never seen before caused me to scratch my head and wonder what these people were thinking.  They didn’t seem to care and I got it set up, went to get some food and came back to sit under the starry night sky.  Thus began my prayer of praising the God of creation (music: Lord of heaven and earth...).

The next couple of days were spent in repentance, reading, praying, silence, solitude (not counting the hippies...with dreads...from Vermont on one side of me and the NRA representative on the other side of me who eventually started fighting over the Iraq war), fasting and spending time in general brokenness.  I went hoping for some answers, but I came home with altogether different answers and probably more questions.  But I knew that there were some things that must change in my life and saw how much was hindering fellowship with God, thereby making it very hard to hear His voice.

I left the Keys on Thursday and by that afternoon, joined a group of people to go to Atlanta to Youth Specialties.  We got there in time for the conference on Friday and within hours, I got sick.  I mean really sick.  As I was laying on my back wondering if God was taking me home, there was a sense that came over me that it was a physical manifestation of the things that beat me up.  God was showing me that even this was the enemy and that just as I would have to fight through in my spiritual battles, I would fight through this while keeping my focus.

I can’t say that I passed this with flying colors.  I have had moments of anger, frustration and generally losing it, but I am aware of the battles that I am fighting and I am convinced that God is giving victory through it.

Comments

[John Thompson]

Well whatever happens... know that you don't have to go at it alone without "people" help. Don't be like me and run away and try to be a superhero and not tell anyone (pride). Even Batman had several sidekicks (that comment was for Matt). Even Africa Rob (Agathos) has a schouffer/assistant (whose name escapes me).

On another random note, here's some advice from my personal nutritionist (Vanessa) that references you- "if he's taking stuff to "stop up" the issue, that's not good - it just keeps the infection inside instead of flushing it out" (referring to your sickness).

"Everyone carries a certain amount of parasites in them and doesn't even know! That's why in the old days, people would do a "cleanse" once or twice a year just to keep their systems clean. Bodies are like cars = if you don't maintain them or put "seafoam" in them, you get gunk build up :)" --- So basically "we" could go to Whole Foods and ask the crazy herb ladies there what they have for this kind of thing. We may have to turn in our man cards to do it and listen to them for longer than is required, but, maybe its worth it to feel better.

My girlfriend/personal nutrionist (Vanessa) nursed me back to health when I thought I was dying in June/July.

[Just Matt]

Go hug a tree John : )
oh and John...I'm Batman! Would you like to ride with the Batman? Would you like that good citizen...