I think I have come up with an original term.

I googled it but it’s possible somebody has already come up with the concept, written a book, and spoken at the conferences so if that’s the case, please comment who it is so I can read their stuff!

I am on what I am calling a Working Sabbatical.

It’s not the same as a regular Sabbatical. As a pastor, I’ve done one of those and it was AWESOME. 3 months of resting, reflecting, reading and learning that I will never forget. But no work, per se.

The Working Sabbatical is different. In my case, I left my job of over a decade (due to theological differences with the church where I served) and found myself in a bit of a blank space.

I wasn’t ready (and still may not be) to jump right back into ministry. I’m honestly not even sure that’s where I’m meant to be. And I couldn’t afford to not work at all, financially or emotionally. I am a girl who loves to work and not just in my home. I need to be out there in some form, contributing and connecting with people.

For me, that has led to a wonderful job in sales where I can work part-time with amazing people. It gives me structure, a paycheck (albeit a much smaller one), and a great community  of new friends where I’m doing something I feel gifted in. And an actual building to show up to and clock in (I actually clock in now! I haven’t done that since the 90’s!).

But it’s not without its pitfalls. Like:

I’m not “important” in my new organization. When you’ve been the boss for a long time you become accustomed to having your opinion mean a lot and to having the power to change things. I don’t now. I put that word in air quotes, however, because I AM important as each day I show up and give my best.

I can sometimes feel forgotten. I see my old co-workers attending conferences and networking groups that I would have been part of, and I feel like my development is no longer a priority to anyone. I need to fight that by remembering that for years I did that for myself. And I can get there again. This working sabbatical may be a vocational break in some ways, but I should NEVER have a developmental break. Until I’m dead. I need to get back on the self learning wagon.

That paycheck thing. Yes, that’s a blow. Although I will say we’ve figured out how to do far more with less. I also realize that for many, this isn’t even an option (the single bread-winner families, for example) so I’m really trying to remember that this is a BLESSING and that I’m one of  a privileged few that can do this, even for a short time.

But overall I’m finding this break from major responsibility refreshing.

I think I needed it far more than I originally thought. I now intend to stay on this break for a year, staying open to new possibilities all the while, and spending that extra time and energy on my family, my writing, and yes, even my running and my dogs. Because as my husband said, once I’m back in the leadership seat, it’s unlikely I will get another break like this until I retire. 

So I better soak in every minute.

Happy running.

Jen