Sabbatical Week 13

This final week was spent with family, hiking, and preparing for the return to ministry.

At the beginning of the week my step-son Matt and his four children (ages 4-13) came for a visit to “grandma- and grandpa’s-on-the-lake”.  We enjoyed swimming and fishing on our lake.  You’ll see pictures of Shane and Henry’s 13” rainbow trout.  They enjoyed catching and eating the fish, but cleaning them?- -not so much.  

We also went hiking together on a Tiger Mountain trail (just 15 minutes from home and one we’d hiked earlier in the summer).  We discovered anew how children and youth can give you a different perspective.  One was from our 13 yr. old grandson, Shane.  When you see the picture where “old trees go to die,” think “treeatary.” Henry also coined a phrase. He saw young trees and shrubs growing out of old trees and stumps, and dubbed them “grandbabys” (a combination of the words “grandparent” and “baby”).  We also discovered interesting flowers and plants along the way.

On Friday, Juliann and Law, my sister and her husband, and Tom and I met at my parent’s apartment at Madison House in Kirkland to share the wedding video with them. Mom and dad could not make the trip to Port Townsend for their granddaughter’s wedding.   After the video we had a delicious dinner together. 

On Saturday we took our final sabbatical hike up 7,000’ Dege Peak at Mt. Rainer National Park near Sunrise.  We hiked 1½ miles and gained 1,000 feet. The views up the trail and on top of the peak are spectacular.  You’ll find pictures of brilliant flowers and majestic scenery from the trail and mountaintop.  As I looked out over Mt. Rainer, the Olympics, Mt Adams, and Mt. Baker, this verse from Psalm 90:2, came to my mind:  “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”  The mountains remind me of how enormous and yet intimate our God is!

Alas, we forgot the camera when we went to KFP for worship this past Sunday, Sept. 4.  So, unfortunately, I cannot share any pictures with you.  So I will try to describe what it was like for Tom and me to be back at Kent First Presbyterian Church.  There was a warming in my heart as I saw each of you.  It is so good to be back among the people whom I love and with whom I am privileged to serve in the name of Christ Jesus. Tom felt a renewed spring in his step as he walked into worship.  As I looked around I saw a faith community that looked renewed as well.  I look forward to hearing your sabbatical stories and sharing more of my own with you. 

Tomorrow the sabbatical ends and I am back as your pastor.  I come back renewed and refreshed.  I have challenges before me, but what is wonderful is having full energy to face them and boldly walk forward.  Ecclesiastes says, “there is a time for every season on this earth.” The sabbatical was a season of rest and renewal.  Coming back is the season for energy, creativity, and bearing fruit.  I look forward to seeing the harvest reaped from this sabbatical in both me and the faith community at Kent First Presbyterian Church.