Friends,
The last four weeks of sabbatical have been happily defined by family, special places, and learning from the familiar. In another lifetime these days may have been defined by travel to new and exotic places and conferences. Instead, I have found myself learning from my roots, my family, and reacquainting with my grounding.

In July, our family headed to a place that has long been my "thin place" — a place where the veil between the human and the divine is perceived to be quite small and the divine feels much more accessible — this place for me is Pentwater, MI. Pentwater has been "home" for our family when we've moved from church to church, city to city, and state to state. I am abundantly grateful for the unique opportunity over the last 4 weeks to share this place and my extended family with my girls. As we've settled into this "thin place" with family I've continued my focus on prayer, rest, and work with my coach. A few observations have stuck with me that you may appreciate as well:

1. The beauty and grounding of rhythm and routine. This is easily observable watching toddlers but I've noticed how it affects my prayer life too. For example, most people who have spent any time with kids will tell you how helpful a routine is - bedtime routine, morning routine, etc. The expectedness of routine was helpful when we moved our kids to a new city and house for a month. Things around them looked different but bedtime was still book, prayer, song (ok, many songs) which helped them transition more easily to the unfamiliar. I first observed how this might affect my prayer life when Matt I were saying our nighttime prayer with Zoe and Eve. Our lengthy prayer has a pattern to it and they started picking up on it and saying it with us "dear God, thank you for our day, thank you for your love..." As I have focused on a sustaining and sustainable prayer life I am noticing that the comfort of certain prayers and the familiarity of these words allows me to lean into the "with God" part of prayer more than the "nice words" part of prayer. Familiar words give space for comfort with God just like a bedtime routine gives space for comfort in a two-year-old's ever-changing world.
   
   
2. The gift of simple pleasures. My sabbatical hasn't been marked by new or exciting experiences but it has been marked by new and exciting discoveries in the world right in front of me. Sitting with family, a fire on the porch (this is a Fall activity in Charlotte!), finding pinecones in the forest, watching the sun rise. These are a few of my favorite things and these simple things can shape our lives even if the big and exciting isn't accessible to us.
   
   
3. Sabbatical has afforded me way fewer meetings (ok, no meetings) and a much shorter to-do list but the world still beats on and the news still breaks my heart and/or enrages me. Outside of the church world or maybe a leadership role I have been grateful to first feel the weight of hard news before the immediate question "what is your opinion on this?" Or, "how will you talk to others about this?" This feels like a holy moment of noticing. A moment in which we I/we can sit with God before we jump to opinions. Perhaps it's a slower pace of life or life in a small town but this holy moment of noticing has allowed me the opportunity to feel the world's pain without feeling like I must carry the weight of the world. 

I am looking forward to being back at Covenant soon, seeing you in worship, sharing ministry with one another, and thanking you for this gift. In the meantime, here are some pictures to capture the last few weeks.

Fondly,
Grace

Friends,
The first word that comes out of my mouth when anyone asks about this sabbatical opportunity is “grateful.” I am abundantly grateful for a wonderful congregation that sees the value in sabbatical, an amazing team of colleagues and leaders who make it easy to know things are in good hands, and the same amazing team that made it hard to say, “see you soon.”

When I began my sabbatical, I knew I would spend my time focusing on three things:
1. Rest!
2. Prayer
3. Work with a coach

Over the last few weeks, I have enjoyed moments spent in each of these spaces. Rest looks a bit different than my normal patterns. Rather than early to bed and shortcuts that help me to find a few quiet moments I have found myself trading convenience for joy. For example: swapping Instacart for the farmers market, Amazon for a walk through Park Road Books, multitasking for intentional time. It has been a joyful time to connect with things I love and see a city I’ve called home for ten years with a fresh lens. For example, on a recent run, I saw a long chalk art display I had never noticed. What a gift to be able to slow down and recapture a sense of awe for what is right in front of me.
Before sabbatical began, I knew I wanted to consider and connect with my prayer life with greater purpose. A busy schedule and two toddlers vying for your attention often means prayer gets cut short. I’ve focused my attention on prayer by talking about it, reading about it, and most importantly just jumping into it. I’ve enjoyed great conversations with friends and acquaintances across various faith traditions learning about their prayer life, read some great books, and stopped multitasking prayer with multiple other things and let it be the gift it is.

You might enjoy reflecting on or asking a friend to talk with you about the questions I’ve taken to asking others:
1. What comes to mind for you when you first think of prayer?
2. Is there a prayer you pray often or something that helps you pray?
3. Except for time, what things get in the way of your prayer life?
4. Is there a time you can remember when prayer was especially helpful in your life?
5. What do you wish your prayer life would look like?
6. In the mist of a full/chaotic life where, if at all, does prayer show up naturally or do you create time for it?

Finally, I have had the joy of working with Trace Haythorn, a wonderful coach as I continue to grow in my ministry. While on sabbatical I’ve enjoyed learning more about the Enneagram a tool I honestly had long disregarded as “not my style.” Learning more about my own leading type has helped me consider how I use my gifts well and look toward my own growth. I can’t wait to share more with you when I get back!

Little moments of awe are all around me, most are found in things like watermelon on the porch with the two sweetest girls I know, but all around are God’s rich blessings. Here are a few shots of the moments of awe.

Our family is headed to Northern Michigan soon and we look forward to more time together, cooler days, and the rich gifts found in lake sunsets, sandy dunes, and good conversation with a view.

Here are a few of my favorite things I’ve read, listened to, and enjoyed this month:
1. Sister Wendy on Prayer by Wendy Beckett
2. Earth to Earth by M.M. Lindvall (yes, I know them)
3. Ghosts of Crook County by Russell Cobb
4. Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
5. The Enneagram Map to Your Deeper Self: Living Beyond Your Type Sandra C. Smith
6. Leading With Purpose (Harvard Business Review)
7. The Next Right Thing Podcast by Emily P. Freeman
8. What To Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers
9. A good journal
10. The swings and a good book at Camp North End

Thank you for this abundant gift.
With love,
Grace