Rector's Reflection

In their book The Spiritual Traveler authors Martin and Nigel Palmer describe holy places as places “where Heaven and Earth have touched, changed lives and transformed landscapes. Some of these places are famous – great cathedrals, mighty stone circles; others are so personal that they may be known only to a few.” These holy spaces are not just external but can also be found in our relationships with others, in our daily life and work and even within ourselves. We can seek out these experiences of God or they can come upon us in a time or place that we least expect them to appear.
On April 25 of this year I will begin a four-month Sabbatical during which I will search for these holy spaces. My search will encompass not only “doing” but also ways of “being” that allow the physical, emotional and spiritual space around life so that each day becomes an occasion for the seeing or being drawn the Spirit into the holy space however it may manifest.

Why a Sabbatical? Priests and pastors serve in a variety of roles in their position at the center of congregational life: preacher, teacher, pastoral visitor, liturgical designer, spiritual guide, administrator, friend, confidant, and even janitor. The responsibilities are continual, and the pace and demands of parish life can be relentless, often leaving even the most dedicated of us recognizing the need to replenish spiritual reservoirs to regain energy and strength for our ministry. Sabbaticals enable us to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection.

These renewal periods are not vacations, but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for regaining the enthusiasm and creativity for ministry and for discovering what will energize us. Sabbaticals afford clergy with the time to refresh, renew, retool and rest, along with opportunities for new learning. Sabbatical leave is an important part of maintaining one’s focus, commitment, passion, and skill for ministry. Because of these reasons the diocese recommends a sabbatical of three months for every 5 to 7 years of service at a church.
Why have I chosen to seek the holy space in this time of renewal? As a priest, people might mistakenly assume that I am “connected to God, 24/7” with holy spaces automatically present. Of course God is connected to me but I am not always open to that connection. Too often I find myself discouraged by feelings of God’s absence in my own prayer as well as in the challenges of my personal and vocational lives. Believing that spiritual longing is God’s call, how can I respond more fully and consistently to this call? How do I recognize when I am letting circumstances block out the experiences of the holy that God is offering to me?

To position the quest for the holy space in the forefront of my spiritual journey is not for itself alone as a “mega” spiritual experience, but for the daily disposition of my mind and heart that will come from this journey – to trust in God’s providence and love, to center myself in Christ more deeply, and to live with the expectation and anticipation of God waiting to be revealed. Seeking and being open to finding that holy space in a physical place, within myself, in my prayer and within my relationships, at work, and at rest or in a place and time where I might least expect God to touch me will help me to better live in the present moment.
We are so rushed in day-to-day life that even the idea of finding a holy space seems impossible or at the very least a major challenge. People may not even know to look for or even how to recognize and name a holy space. Taking this journey to seek the holy spaces of life can enable me as priest to help you become sensitive to the holy spaces in your own life. My goal is to be able to help you recognize, embrace and take joy in them. As priest I can assure you that these things will happen and support you when they do. Corporately, without a true sense of our corporate holy spaces, the church can become just another human institution, like a school or club, instead of being empowered for ministry through the experiences. The process begins with me as minister to explore, experience, model and teach the quest for the holy space. It is my prayer that my sabbatical journey to explore the holy space will touch, change and transform the landscape not only of my own life, but your life and the life of our church community as well.

— Jane