leisure

Working hours and Ministry is always an emotive subject, and having a sabbatical, does make you think a little more about it again. Interestingly the greatest defenders of not having a maximum hours ceiling are Ministers themselves and, as someone who works alongside quite a number, I can say more problems occur in Churches because of Ministers working too much, than working too little - I have very few lazy Ministers. Whether they're busy doing what they should be doing ........!

Anyway, the European directive for junior doctors working a maximum number of hours (in their case 48) brings an interesting angle to the argument and I've always maintained with deacons if their Minister is 'working' in more than 16 sessions out of 21 per week they every much a problem than someone not doing enough. 

This weekend has been lovely in many ways - had time to go cross country schooling with Ben on friday, went to watch Forest Green Rovers play my home town team, Kettering, on Saturday. This was followed by a lovely meal cooked by a friend of Ben's who's staying at present whilst we watched the balloons from the Bristol Balloon Festival fly overhead, nice BBQ yesterday after church - in the sun!, film club after evening service - all good fun and leisurely. I'm convinced that the whole principle of sabbath is, as Jesus says, is for our benefit - it's not just we need enough leisure time for rest, but the rest of our lives need it to live.

a question of balance...

‘What number one new sport can I follow?’ - Tom’s question after last night’s thrilling (if you were a neutral) 4-4 draw at Anfield between Arsenal and Liverpool. Having left home at 2.30pm and arriving back at 2.30 am you do have to ask some questions which involve words such as ‘madness’ and ‘stupidity’. If only it were that easy to walk away! Today I don’t like football.

Today I had my first golf lesson – could this be  a rival to football? It all looks so easy whenever you watch someone else, but it all sounds so complicated even talking about how to grip the club – still, good fun though.

What happened to the sabbatical? Aren’t sabbaticals supposed to be about doing something spiritual and productive? Well, Roy Searle, to quote again on this one, claims they should be about ‘holy pottering’ – basically DOING nothing. Whilst I warm very much to Roy’s sentiment here, I’m not sure I want to go that far, but this says more about me than anything else I realise. However, what I think sabbatical time is about (today, I may change my mind tomorrow) is balance. I’ve been thinking about Sabbath rest – mainly cos I need some. Isn’t there something I the way God designed the fact night follows day and each week is to have a break in it, which is about trying to ensure there’s a balance to life. My friend Geoff (wonder and wondering) will have something profound to offer about the place of silence in any piece of music I’m sure. Certainly, there is a time for everything as Ecclesiastes reminds us, but Christian ministry has a way of changing all that and some of the ordinary and normal can easily be pushed out. Of course, the consequences of this is a hard-working Minister, but one who is out of synch with the rest of the world and what is it not-yet Christian people need to encounter more than anything? OK apart from Jesus, what is it not-yet Christian people need to encounter? So, I’ve booked another golf lesson and I intend to get on the driving range before then. The real trick though is maintaining the balance after the sabbatical is over.