Wednesday

Out Of Idleness: Post-Sabbatical Note from Rev Eric Bolash

Out Of Idleness
Post-Sabbatical Note from Rev Eric Bolash

I’m back! It wasn’t easy setting the alarm for that first Monday morning, but I came in to a “decorated” office as my welcome back from sabbatical. 



I realize it’s been an exceptionally eventful summer for our church. That’s putting it mildly. Although I haven’t been here, I know it’s been difficult. As I return, I am ready and want to be available to walk further with everyone through this time. Call or email if you’d like to get together. I’m eager to listen. 

My time away was restful. The Bolash family had great adventures in Iceland, London and Scotland. A few highlights:

We met some spirited Icelandic teenagers in a store called Reykjavik Records
We saw Shakespeare’s A Comedy Of Errors at The Globe
We tried Haggis in Scotland--which I do not recommend
We saw Nessie at Loch Ness--I can show you the photo
Robin and I stayed in an 11th-century Scottish castle
Robin and I spent several peaceful days in a quiet Scottish fishing village by the sea



Otherwise, as much as I could during the last two months, I have woken up in the mornings, made coffee, had breakfast and then gone out to a quiet spot to read Scripture, pray, walk, read poetry and write poetry. The Lord brought refreshment through the time.

The above title, “Out Of Idleness,” is a phrase from Herman Melville’s novel, Moby Dick. In the novel, Captain Ahab roars his command at the sailors to “split your lungs with blood and thunder” as they pursue the white whale. Meanwhile, in contrast, the harpoonist sits nearby, completely still, quietly waiting. From the book: “To ensure the greatest efficiency in the dart, the harpoonists of the world must start to their feet out of idleness and not out of toil.” Author and pastor Eugene Peterson points out that the harpoonist appears unproductive. But this is only so that when the right moment comes, he is rested and ready for his unique task. 

So, being away allowed some time for idleness. That was a big theme. All of us as Christians need idleness. We need sabbath. Jesus said sabbath was created for us, as a gift to us. In it, we learn that God is always at work. Sometimes he invites us into his work. Sometimes he rests us so that we are again ready for work.

Below you’ll find a sampling from the poems I penned during the time away. I learned that writing decent poetry is harder than it looks. Some of mine was pretty terrible! But the use of words to communicate spiritual truth is an important part of pastoring, so it was a valuable component of my time away. 

Out of Idleness ~ Poems From Sabbatical

I am looking forward to seeing everyone again in worship and joining with you in God’s work in and through this church body.

In Christ,
Eric