by Dianne Ross

“Dianne, I don’t want you to DO anything, or accomplish anything on sabbatical, but rather it should be a time for you to rest and be renewed in your relationship with Christ”.

My response: “You mean I can go to New Zealand and just look at sheep?”

“If that’s what it takes for you to get renewed, do it.”

This conversation took place in Dan’s office as I was beginning to plan my sabbatical for fall 2007. It was music to my ears, and very formative for Chris and me as we sought to meet this goal of renewal in Christ. Here’s how God did it:

Worship
It was pure joy to worship in twelve different churches and to experience the larger body of Christ. Having no responsibilities on Sunday mornings enabled me to really focus during these worship experiences. Worshipping the same God in Christ from Seattle, WA to Parua Bay NZ, in congregations from 12 to 1,012 has expanded our vision of God’s kingdom on earth and has refreshed our own praise each Sunday!

Scripture
We joined with our home group in reading “The Bible in a Year” every day. My favorite times were when Chris read the scripture out loud and I just listened, and sometimes took notes. It was so good to be bathed in scripture and to have ample time to meditate on it alone, or talk about it together.

Creation
I’ve always felt very close to God when I’m out in His beautiful creation, and I encountered the majesty of God with girl friends in the Cascades, and in the Sierras; with Chris near Mt. Rainier and on Whidbey Island.

The highlight was definitely New Zealand: in the “Bay of Islands” we saw dolphins and whales, in the Milford Sound we saw hundreds of water falls; at the Church of the Good Shepherd with its turquoise lake, we saw the Southern Alps and clouds of blue and purple mirroring the fields of lupin. The beauty brought us both to tears many times.

Oh, and yes, the sheep. . I think we saw all 40 million of them! We finished our sabbatical with a week in Montana, spending a few days with Steve, Laura and baby Theo Lympus. Cross country skiing in Yellowstone with “the pastor” was a highlight!

In my absence the Children’s Ministry team (elders Julia Sensenbrenner, Christy Mansfield and staff Sara McMahon and Holly Royston) did a phenomenal job and I am so grateful. And for the many volunteers who stepped up to the plate in new and fresh ways, …thank you!

Coming back to Bethany, am I different?
Chris and I are even more committed to taking Sabbath rest – which we are now begin Wednesdays at 5:00 pm. This is essential. Also, God has given me new directions and desire to rise early and spend time with him in Scripture and prayer. He is faithful to meet me in those times and reminds me what he revealed during this sabbatical: “Draw near to me first…then feed my sheep”.