Message from Fr. Rob on Sabbatical

Dear St. Matthew's friends and family,

When I first conceived of this time away, I thought of it as a vacation. Having worked so hard for so long, a break felt like what was most needed. Doing one more thing - even taking a sabbatical felt like one more burden to carry, one more task needing to be done.

Then I realized that I am rest-less when I don’t have a purpose. So the idea of taking an extended vacation grew into a sabbatical. It would still be restful, but the rest would be part of a forward moving process. The time felt re-creational in that it afforded a rare opportunity for focused, intentional growth. (And rest is required for growth.)

But finally, I have come to conceive of this time as a “vision quest.” More than anything, what I need - and what I think the world needs from me - is that I hear from God. More specifically, or more accurately, it is that I better see as God sees, particularly as it pertains to the next leg of the journey ahead.

So one of my prayers each day has simply been “Speak, Lord, for your servant listens.” And God is speaking, though rarely in the ways or words I expected. In them, a vision is taking shape.

There is so much I can’t wait to share with you when we return. Until then, please know that we are remembering you with gratitude in our prayers as we hold your dear in our hearts with much love and affection.

Rob+