Sabbatical Day 0

May 26, 2024

I am currently on a direct flight from Columbus to Seattle.  I believe this possibility was opened up when Amazon started moving some of its factory operations to Columbus.  They needed a way for their workers to travel between sights expeditiously.  This is the second time in less than a year that Leah and I have taken this direct flight and let me tell you, as someone who did many a lay-over as I travelled back and forth to the PNW many times for seminary, this flight is absolutely glorious.  Honestly, it isn’t that expensive either.

Anyway, I am on this flight because sabbatical has begun.  My family and I are on our way to Whidbey Island, just about 45 minutes north of Seattle for 5 weeks where we will live and volunteer a bit on some of my family’s land out here.  I used to bring students here when I worked at an undergraduate institution where I would teach the positive benefits of plugging back into the land and listening for the work of the Creator by interacting more widely with the Creator’s creation.  Now it is time for me/us to do just that.

This morning, our church prayed for our family as we embark on this journey and as they did I was overcome with gratitude.  My current church shouldn’t necessarily bear the lion share of this load, but every indication is that they are glad to do it.  I have a tendency to feel guilt over this incredible opportunity I have been given, but that is all self imposed.  Everyone I have encountered has been incredibly supportive and happy for us!  I deeply appreciate that.

In our second service, the choir, which I direct, sang a beautiful anthem from my favorite choral arranger, Dan Forrest, to wrap up our time together this season.  Our choir takes summers off, so this finale to our season was a great way to put a bow on this musical season.  And, in both services the congregation prayed for our family.

Now we are on this direct Alaska flight and in a little over an hour we will do one of my favorite parts of coming out to this part of the country.  We will be picked up and then we will drive our car onto the ferry to Whidbey.  It was magical the first time Leah and I did it and I have no doubt it will be magical again this evening.  We will pull our car onto the Ferry and then we will get out and walk up the steps and out the front doors and smell the cold, salty air of the Puget Sound as we ‘sail’ off into the darkness.

Then we will settle in and go to sleep, because it will be about 10p Seattle time, and I woke up at about 2am their time.  :)

In the morning I am sure we will get ready-acclimated to the farm and begin to talk about what our responsibilities will be.  My daughters are really fighting over milking rights apparently unaware that some experience or training might be necessary :).