When I was in Junior High School, my older brother bought a fabulous ’68 Plymouth Sport Fury for $200 from the kid down the street. It was blue with a cavernous back seat which is where I usually ended up. The Fury was equipped with a 318 V8 but only 7 cylinders worked. It limped along (da-lump, da-lump, da-lump) but would make it to 100 mph when pushed. My brother did not try to fix the engine right away; it worked fine for back-and-forth to school, and whisked him to secret places where he could engage in clandestine activities.
In deciding to take a Sabbatical, I feel a little like the car. I work “fine” and can be pushed to the limit occasionally. I recognize I need some repairs emotionally. Definitely need a rest to refocus. I’m also wondering about the many different things I am doing. I need to answer the question “in ministry, what do I really want to do? What am I good at doing?” It may mean saying no to some good things to say yes to great things. It would be like working on all 8 cylinders.
Today I start, and am allowed 30 days. Before the sabbatical was scheduled, I already planned to attend a marriage conference and an out-of state wedding. I am looking forward to the time I have.
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2 responses to “Sabbatical like my brother’s Car”
I love this post. Very good illustration, David! …So a few questions:
1. Now that your sabbatical is drawing to an end, what have you seen “under the hood” as you made a few of the repairs you referred to? Any specific things you have worked on for emotional health? What patterns in your spiritual or emotional life do you see which may changing?
2. What is your mental picture for “running on all 8 cylinders?”
3. When you “run on 7 cylinders,” what is most frustrating to you? And as you mentioned, the frustration may not show up immediately. How and when does it show up?
4. Did your brother ever repair the Fury? If so, what did he sell it for in the end? I imagine a working 318 Fury would go for a good bit more than $200 today.
DHand, you have some good questions. Some I can answer here and some will be better to tell you face-to-face.
4. He fixed the engine. But it had rust issues and both front fenders had been bent up. He ended up selling it for about 200 to someone who was going to paint it pink and run it in a demolition derby. Kind of sad.
1-2-3. It seemed like I was frustrated all the time…with everything. I got some ideas of changes to make that hopefully will help.