Why You'll Want to Negotiate a "Pure" Sabbatical

Marcus Lynn did exactly as his mentor urged him to do. He negotiated an 8-week sabbatical before he accepted his new position as pastor of the First Church of Versailles in Versailles, Kentucky, a suburb of Lexington. That sabbatical opportunity rolls around every five years. And guess what? Marcus just got back!!!

Guess what else? Marcus is very glad that he listened to his mentor.

His sabbatical is unrestricted, but he must submit a plan to his elders. He spent two weeks doing church work, one week was in Costa Rica – an international mission trip for the church – and another week in a Children’s Camp he enjoys. His family – 3 children, ages 4-10, and his wife – were with Marcus throughout, except for Costa Rica (bummer). But for those two weeks of church activities, he completely disconnected from his congregation and the day-to-day work of the church.

What advice does Marcus have for sabbatical takers? He has one very clear message, which might sound unusal coming from a guy who spends the majority of his time giving to others and probably advising some of us to get over ourselves and think of others. Marcus says: BE SELFISH WITH YOUR SABBATICAL.

First, he advises, have the goals of your sabbatical be your own health and rest. His goal was to “care for myself”, and he told me the barometer has gone up on that. He spent time in workout clothes. Working out, reading, un-interrupted time with the kids – all those were important.

In my work, I listen to a lot of sabbatical ideas. Often, they involve kids, friends, your friends’ kids, your kids’ friends, family, life partners, ex-wives, neighbors, etc. The Big Question: What do YOU want to do on YOUR sabbatical? We’ve talked about that critical question before in this blog.

I bring it up again, because Marcus reinforced it in a large way. The advice he has about being SELFISH with your sabbatical? Well, if Marcus had it to do all over again, he wouldn’t have done those two weeks of church activities. He would have had a “pure” sabbatical. All 8 weeks, just for him.

But even with those two weeks of work for the Lord, there’s a new Marcus in our midst. Not completly new (I don’t think the Elders would have wanted that), but changed.

Our interview happened on his first day back from sabbatical. Marcus was struggling with his sermon for Sunday. He usually has those completed four weeks out. I kidded him, saying that if he had been working with me, he would have had his Sunday sermon written before he ever left for sabbatical. Then he gave me an answer that makes me understand why I’m in this business.

Laughing, he told me that if he’d written those sermons pre-sabbatical, he’d be re-writing them. “My perspective has changed,” he explained. “I wouldn’t be able to deliver them in the same way.”

I’m going to save the rest of what we can learn from Marcus for a later blog. Right now, it seems good enough that a few readers might be inspired by a smart, small town pastor who negotiated his own sabbatical (yes, you can, too) and to consider, if you’re planning one, making it a selfish one. “A PURE sabbatical,” advises Preacher Lynn. “One just for you.”

Marcus shares more insights in his blog. You won’t want to miss his “kick butt” comments on the Olympics plus you’ll learn about “cow tipping.” (Well, I didn’t know what it was. I suppose you do??)