So - the first day of 2025 - the year of my sabbatical and the theme for this, when it starts in three months time, will be 'walking...'
Over the past few months I've been drawn back over and over again to some verses from Matthew 11:28-30 - taken from the Message version:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
It's this sense of walking with God that He has drawn my attention to and my focus of my three months will be retracing my footsteps to connect with the places and people who have been significant on my journey of faith and ministry so far and taking time to be with God and seeking His heart and guidance for what He would have me do in the future.
The thing is, I've journeyed with God my whole life. I was brought up in a family of faith with God and church life at the centre of our lives. The church I attended in South East London was where my family had worshipped for years - firstly my maternal grandparents, then my aunts and uncles and parents and then myself and eventually my own children.
I will begin my sabbatical on 1st April - maybe a funny date for some, but it will be the 35th anniversary of my baptism so the date seemed very fitting.
So my "walking" will begin with a journey back to my childhood church - Blackheath and Charlton Baptist - following in my own footsteps. I'll visit the folk there and worship with them and spend some time at the church that was so significant to me growing up. It was here I went to Sunday school, being taught at least for part of the time by my aunt. It was here I attended Girls Brigade and was a part of the youth group. It was here I sang my first ever solo at the age of 7 singing the 'Cat and Mouse carol' accompanied by my father on the piano. Here that I eventually taught Sunday School myself, and helped in the creche, and became the leader of a youth group. It was here I learnt and grew, where I worshipped and prayed and sang and served. And it was here that I entered the waters of baptism - committing my life to a life of following God. This place was my spiritual home, and still is if you like. The place where my faith was kindled and the place in which I heard the call from God to go and explore a call to ministry. So for all that and more I shall remain ever grateful.
But this church, this very special place will be for me an opportunity to also remember my parents. I don't have a gravestone to visit, nor a place where their ashes are scattered (this just wasn't a thing for our family), but this church - this is where I shall remember them. I shall remember them and be thankful - so very thankful for the way they shared their faith with me as I grew. Thankful for their love and support rooted in their own faith. Thankful for all the years that we shared together in that place and for all that God brought to birth in our lives, individually and together.
So this is how my sabbatical will begin. I'll be walking in other places of significance and walking with people who have been important along the journey, but I'll share more about that another time.
