This is a brief note, mostly to see if I have actually figured out how to do this.
I began this first day of my sabbatical appreciating the send-off Ascension gave me. I was touched by the glorious music, the kind words and gifts, and the T-shirt and paper greeting the Sunday School children made for me. (The T-shirt literally makes me feel supported by all your hands holding me up.)
The first sermon today at the Festival of Homiletics here in Minneapolis mused on the Martha and Mary story in Luke 10. Jesus admonishes Martha for being distracted by many things and reminds her that one thing is necessary — focussing on Jesus. Sabbatical rest is good for that — removing oneself from all those many details and tasks that can distract you and spending time focussing on the one thing needful: Jesus and how we use our gifts and abilities to follow him.
