Sabbatical.

Three months.

Rest.

Renewal.

Refreshment.

Recommitment.

Restoration.

6,000 miles of driving. Dirt roads in Western Colorado. The Beltway in Washington D.C.

Downshifting.

National Parks. Museums.

Less Zoom. More introspection.

Silence. Conversation. Music. More conversation.  Audio Books. Quiet.

Laughter. Tears.

Tenderness. Grit.

Flashes of selfishness. A buffet of grace.

Pioneering. Trips down memory lane.

Reset. Re. Set.

Sabbath.

A getaway. A pathway to deeper things.

Honest reflection. Face to face with… me. With Him.

An awesome God.

Creator.

Protector.

Advocate.

Judge.

King.

A broken and sinful man.

Me.

Who I want to be… sometimes. A disappointing mess… sometimes.

But always covered by grace.

Always.

The way. The only way.

Sabbatical. The world didn’t stop for three months.

Not globally or personally.

The screaming got louder. The vulnerable are still exploited. Toxic tones continue. The innocent die. Evil flourishes.

Water heaters break. Carpet gets soaked. Refrigerators stop working. Dryer motors quit.

But God.

Rich in mercy. Abounding in steadfast love.

He beckons. He pursues. He embraces. He loves. He forgives. He inspires. He commands. He empowers.

Always.

In three months… my God got bigger.

He is a beautiful Savior. A forever friend. The righteous one.

I tapped my brakes, He pressed His accelerator.

More of Jesus. Less of me.

October 1. A new beginning. A fresh perspective. An unchanging King.

Sabbatical… now informing Sabbath… now instructing my soul.

“Come to me…”