This week marks the beginning of my sabbatical. My regular readers have come to expect posts each Friday. Until my return in August, I’ll be letting go of that pattern along with the daily routines of being a bishop.
I’ll still be reading, writing, and praying. That’s an essential part of my spiritual practice. But I’m stretching into some new themes and new ideas and looking into publishing short pieces in some additional platforms. In addition to that, I’m writing toward my next book if not precisely writing it. For now, though, I’ll be keeping most of what I write to myself.
This month Joy and I will do some traveling. We’re participating in a pilgrimage to Ireland and digging into Celtic Christian Spirituality. Following that pilgrimage we will visit Mauthausen, the concentration camp that my mother survived.
From time to time I’ll post reflections from my studies and travels. But in keeping with sabbath time, I’ll wait until August to return to a regular pattern of posting.
Connecting with my readers is one of the great joys of my life. I’m genuinely grateful to and for you. Until August…….
Am sure is much needed Jake…Enjoy your travels and space to be with God.xxx
Thank you, Dorothy!
Happy travels! Rich pilgrimages !
Thank you! I’m really looking forward to new experiences and learning new things.
Have a wonderful sabbatical, Bishop. Stephen Waller
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Thank you, Stephen+
My pilgrimage group travels to Ireland tonight! We will have a week there beginning on Inishmore, Aran, then down to Dingle. It would be wonderful to cross paths, but I won’t hold my breath. On the 11th, we are off to Skye and Lewis in Scotland. I will be eager to read whatever you are moved to write about your Celtic journeys.
Safe travels! Maybe we can travel together sometime.
You have been feeding us so well. Thank you. Know that you and your wife will continue to be in our prayers. You will be missed!
Thank you, Steven! I appreciate those kind words and covet those prayers.
Should you find yourselves in England, we are in the South West, Cornwall, a beautiful sea bound peninsula and would welcome you heartily.
Have a wonderful sabbatical with your wife also.
Susan and Mike Ashmore
What a lovely invitation! Perhaps next year, once the Lambeth Conference concludes, we can take you up on that.
I will miss your Friday ”sharings”and look forward to your August return.
Thanks, Lulu! I’m sure I’ll be itching to resume posting.
I will miss your posts while you are away. Enjoy all those new experiences and life lessons along the way and tell us about them on your return. God bless you both.
Thank you, Margaret!
Enjoy!
Hope that you find this time rejuvenating. My prayers go with you, particularly as you visit Mauthausen. Karen Sent from my iPhone
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Thank you, Karen! I believe that Mauthausen will be powerful but difficult. I appreciate those prayers.
Your posts and daily reads and affirmations will be missed.
Safe and enlightening travels to you and Joy.
Interesting how your sabbatical can also become ours ☺️
Thank you, Janet! I hope that my time away—travels, studies, prayers—will give me more to share with you when I return.
On Thursday I did a post called “Holding On and Letting Go”, an autumn post with a quote attributed to Rumi.. Life is a balance of holding on and letting go. Now is the time to let you go, to release you to the joy and wonder of discovering, exploring, experiencing new things. For you and Joy I pray that God will richly bless you both in every way and keep you safe but especially that you’ll find beauty, wonder and comfort each step of the way and return with hearts full of gratitude. Much love (and gratitude) to you both from Liz
I do love Rumi! And I cherish our connection. Thanks for the prayers and good wishes. Love and blessings…….
Blessings to you for this special time.
A much needed Sabbatical for you and for Joy! May it be a time of rest, reflection, renewal, and Grace, Jake! I am so glad that God brought us together, my dear Brother ❤️❤️
Thanks, Michael! And I’m grateful for our connection, too! I would love to make it up to your part of the world once I get back.
Always welcome, Jake!
I pray for safe travels for you and Joy. A wonderful sabbatical .
Bishop Jake, enjoy your well deserved Sabbatical. We will look forward to your return. Be safe.
The peace of Christ be with you.
May you be blessed with safe travels – encounter people who want to be helpful – bask in the goodness of God and
( ‘The blessings of heaven, the blessing of earth, the blessings of sea and of sky, on those you love today and on every human family.” – John Philip Newell)
Looking forward to meeting you end of August in Wyoming. Safe travels and enlightening moments
I’m looking forward to being with you all
A pilgrim psalm/prayer mash up for you as you “let go” at Mauthausen:
May His light intensify around you as you walk where she walked. And, may your heart know it is her and feel loved.
Thankful for you and your channel to goodness. Be brave. We the faithful, gottcha covered with prayers and love.
What a lovely prayer, Mary Pat! Thank you for that, for the continued prayers, and for reading along with me as I wade and stumble and scooch my way through the divine mystery.
Have a blessed Sabbath, Jake!
Relax as much as you and Joy can and you will be in the prayers of Holy Trinity in Sulphur.