Sabbatical is almost at its end. We are bursting with thanksgiving and appreciation for all of you who prayed and loved and supported and journeyed with us!!!!! We can’t put into words what an amazing, life-giving adventure this has been. But we did try to put a few words to the questions you sent us. Here they are:

[Also, please know you are invited to come to a lunch following the 11:00 worship service at Ascension Lutheran Church THIS Sunday, August 2. The lunch will be in Pedersen Hall and we will be sharing some reflections from the sabbatical journey. Tim will be preaching the next two weekends at Ascension. Chamie resumes her preaching/retreat schedule on August 9.]

1. [How did you answer] Jude's question about how water stays in lakes?

My quick take on this was that while water does evaporate from lakes and oceans there is so much water in them that it takes a lot of time to do so. And that they get filled back up with rain and rivers before all the water disappears. I think it was after that that Aidan and Jude started singing the “evaporation, condensation, precipitation” song that they learned while studying rain one day in mommy school. I’ve discovered that so much of parenting consists of staying one step ahead of your children so they don’t think you are completely ignorant. I’m sure we will have to think of a different strategy when they become teen-agers.

2. I want to know about your sabbatical rhythm (work-rest-play-pray-study). What did it look like specifically? How well did you keep to this throughout the sabbatical? I mean, was it as regimented as "when the noon bell tolls, we celebrate midday mass," (kind of monk-like), or was it more fluid than that?

Our rhythm was not regimented, like stopping everything at noon for prayer. Admittedly there were days that felt chaotic - traveling with its time changes and long hours on a plain or in a car, is sometimes especially unfavorable to establishing a rhythm - but having the goal of daily worship, study, work, rest and play kept us more accountable living that life. So I guess we would say our days were more like different songs, but the same artist and the same instruments. In other words, different days brought different songs, but our days always included resting and re-creating… we emphasized, for instance, the importance of a good night’s sleep and I think that in itself helped keep us all healthy. We also rested/recreated through some sort of daily physical activity, be it running, swimming, biking (our bikes went with us everywhere minus Europe). We made it a point just to free-play everyday – which was sometimes a game of tag at a rest stop or a game of Uno on the train. We had to “work” in the sense of tending to our daily needs and schedule-keeping. We (as in Tim & Chamie) also read books every day as a part of our study. The most “set rhythm” was lighting the prayer candle nearly every night and there was no place that candle did not go!

3.What is one thing that you wish you had taken with you... and one thing that you wish you had left behind?

We can’t think of one extra material-thing we would have taken with us (but a nanny would have been nice for a free evening)… but we realize we could have left behind more clothes. We could have traveled with 3 outfits instead of 4! We traveled VERY LIGHTLY. We absolutely loved the SIMPLICITY of it and NOT once did the children whine for their toys or say that they did not have enough. It was beautiful. We found this lightness so inspiring that this week at home, we spent three days cleaning closets and the garage and giving away boxes and bag loads of toys, clothes, and random stuff. It felt great and our prayer and hope is to continue to travel more lightly and gently and simply in this world.

4.Based on your sabbatical experiences, what specific changes do you plan to make in your family life?

It is hard to summarize in words, for the experience itself has led us all to view the world in a different way... it is not so much what changes we will make, but that we have already become different people. We plan on adopting some "fun" rhythms to help us remember through ritual and remember that rhythms are truly important... so every Wednesday, we're doing "Taize-breakfast" - baguettes with chocolate butter knives (our table is open, so come join us)! We also plan on being very intentional about adopting monastic rhythms... practicing "family monasticism" (and we invite others to join us in this venture, too, through Raising Micah... you can learn more in the weeks to come)... and one of the things we will do each week is to have a "family meeting" like the brothers/sisters before us... a meeting in which we will set our weekly rhythm. We've already begun the process of letting go of a lot of "stuff" and plan on living with less in our closets. We are also expanding our garden and the ways we eat in rhythm (we're already "community-gardening" in our backyard with the Woodward's).

Good Questions

As we were traveling across the lonely countryside, Jude asked, "How does the water stay lakes?"

"What?" we asked.

"How does water stay in lakes?" Jude asked again and then gave further explanation. "When I dig a hole for a puddle and fill it with water, the water gets out. How does it stay in the lake?"

We love his question-asking, his good-thinking, maybe of which came alive because there is not necessarily a lot to do when driving and driving and driving and then driving some more. As we worshiped last Sunday, Jude asked another fabulous question. We were with our friends, the Foster's, staying at Glen Eyrie Retreat Center, and we were following the path through six various prayer stations. The first one was in the garden. We read the scripture and talked. And then Jude asked, "Who made the weeds? Does God make weeds or does Satan?" We sometimes wonder where he comes up with these things, but we loved the great discussion that it sparked.

So... good questions... we invite you to ask some. We've been blogging about our journey and now we invite you to post your own questions that you may have been wondering about in regards to sabbatical. They can be logistical questions about how one survives for hours in a messy van with three kids... or theological questions about the different places of ministry we have visited or... or... YOU COME UP WITH THE QUESTIONS... just enter them in the "comment" area and we will respond with another blog answering what we can.. and maybe we should say "want" - it is still sabbatical, after all. You have just a few days... we will try to answer the middle of next week. Only one week left of sabbatical. We thank all of you for your prayers and support... and now questions...

The Right and the Left

Written by Chamie... with words from Tim, too...

Sabbatical has been diverse.  It has included exploring family spirituality within many different venues.  When speaking of the places we’ve visited, we have sometimes gotten a rise out of people.  For instance, when mentioning that we would be worshiping at Solomon’s Porch (www.solomonsporch.com) in Minneapolis, someone commented, “Oh, really” in that tone that says, “I’m not sure you should that.”  I asked, “Why do you say that?”  The response was, “Well, I hear they are rather liberal.”  On another occasion, I mentioned our visit to Focus on the Family (www.focusonthefamily.com) in Colorado Springs and was met by a gasp of horror.   “But they are off the chart on conservatism!” someone exclaimed. 

Interestingly enough, during our travels, an old high school classmate who is now a Southern Baptist pastor posted a blog about the “death of the emergent church” and lambasted Doug Pagitt, pastor of Solomon’s Porch.  Then we got to Focus on the Family this past Friday and I found it rather ironic, amusing, and intriguing that they were lambasting “the left” who had claimed “the Christian Right is dead.” 

I must say that I’m rather tired of all the “dead” talk.  Jesus said, “I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.”  What might it be to honor those who give life, be it on the left or the right?   Tim and I saw a lot of life at Solomon’s Porch.  We sat with one the largest group of younger adults I’ve seen gathered in one sanctuary in the U.S. (that wasn’t a campus) in quite a long time, people who were passionate about their faith and walking in the way of Jesus and serving the community beyond their church doors.   That is life.  We also saw life at Focus on the Family as the tour guide shared that their trained counselors talk to 300 people a day who are in crisis… suicide, depression, domestic violence….   I imagine that many lives have been transformed because there was someone to talk to and guide them to help.  That, too, is life.

What might it mean to honor ministries that give life?  I will tell you honestly that the thought of even walking into Focus on the Family made my stomach turn.   I jokingly, yet nervously, wondered if they had a radar at the door that would mark me as “female clergy” and/or “registered Democrat” and get me immediately imprisoned in a small room where staff members would perform an intervention, maybe even an exorcism.   Either I fooled the radar or they didn’t have one.  Focus on the Family is not where I personally find life, but it does not mean that I do not honor others who have found life in their ministries.

Our family mission statement is Micah 6:8 which is “to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.”  I think one of the tenets of humility is not to be so arrogant as to claim that “your church” has THE ANSWERS.  Humility, I believe, is bold enough to claim the truth of one’s own life without forcing those truths upon another.  My prayer is the right and the left could be humble enough to respect the life-giving love of God that by grace is available to all human beings.

Notes from Minnesota

Written by Aidan Delkeskamp

Well we’ve been doing FANTASTIC!!! Oh and Lisa, if you read this tell Laney that I miss her and tell Sawyer I miss him and try to work out a sleepover with Sawyer and Laney and me. Anyway, Sunday we had to drive an hour I think, to this camp called Wapo. We went to church there. [It was outside]. Then it was communion time and I served it. Then me Jude and Hannah all went to a dock and Jude and Hannah played in the water. Mom and I sat in a swing and swung. That night we went to another worship service. Monday we went down to the park to play soccer with dad. Then we went to a malt shop with the creator of the movie Up’s parents for lunch. It is a good movie. You should see it. We even got an autographed kids book of UP, just to us. Oh, we had met them, Dave and Rita [just like my aunt and uncle, isn’t that funny] on the train to Dijon, France. But they live here in Minnesota. They went on sabbatical with their kids when they were little, before their son made movies. Then we went with them to a place where we went boating. My mom said it was not good to leave here without boating. I guess there is something like ten thousands lakes.

Messy Spirituality

Written by Chamie

Our van seems to get messier with each passing day. It is also making strange noises and is scheduled for the mechanic tomorrow morning. Our guest room at Stub Hall of Luther Seminary is scattered with clothes, books, snack items, and sheets from the children’s fort-building. Our nicely-printed schedule for this leg of the journey has scratches, scribbles, cross-outs, and adaptations. In the middle of “boat-in worship” this morning at Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp, a service held out on the beach, it began to rain. We agree fully with author Wendy Wright in her book SACRED DWELLINGS that family life is not exactly the serene, orderly life that one imagines in communities of faith like... well, monasteries or the homes of the desert fathers and mothers. Life is just plain messy… with many unexpected twists and turns, some joy-filled and some painful.

Just three weeks ago, my cousin, who was engaged with plans to get married later this year, found out that her dad has stage four lung cancer. Knowing that I would be in the area and could officiate, she wondered if it was possible to pull off a wedding in three weeks – and have her dad walk her down the aisle. That is the messiness of life. But Kate made it happen, and she made it happen beautifully. She even made her own cakes, so gorgeous and professional looking that I believe she could make hundreds of dollars selling them to other brides. She took the “mess,” per say, of the situation and made something good out of it.

And I would say that is one of the reasons that I love Jesus so much… he loves each one of us with a wide and deep love – right smack dab in the middle of our messiness. And he shows us how to take the messy, chaotic pieces and create something good and true and beautiful.

South Dakota

Written by Aidan Delkeskamp

We spent the 4th of July weekend in South Dakota. We went to a place called Crazy Horse. We also went on a family vision quest at a holy mountain of the Lakota. My mom lived with the Lakota for a little bit. After that, we went back to a monastery. I really saw God at work when I went bike riding with my dad at a trail (I biked 7 and a half miles). We also stayed at my great grandma's house. Now we are going to Luther Seminary.

Past & Present

Written by Chamie

You could say that we have had some “past and present” moments in “Lutheran contexts.” We are currently staying in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho. Norm & Kathryn Braatz retired here. Norm was the pastor of Tim’s church in Brea, CA during his youth and young adult years. Norm was remembering when he first met Tim. He had arrived at the church on a Tuesday to begin his new pastoral call. That Friday, the youth were having a progressive dinner, the last stop being at the home of the Delkeskamp’s. Tim was 14-years-old at the time and greeted Pastor Braatz and offered to ride with him to the different dinner stops so that he wouldn’t get lost. Apparently Tim talked the whole entire time. Pastor Braatz thought, “I think this kid might grow up to be a pastor.” Pastor Braatz has a special place in Tim’s life as well as our life together – it was Pastor Braatz who officiated at our quasi-elopement on the California beach ten years ago. It has been good to remember and reconnect.

We’ve also connected with a present Lutheran-Episcopal Church. When we were in the Seattle-Area last weekend, we worshiped at Church of the Apostles (www.apostleschurch.org). Karen Ward is an ordained ELCA pastor, but goes by the title “abbess” and this congregation meets at Fremont Abbey. We heard her speak at the National Pastor’s Convention a few years ago about the emerging church. During the summer, Church of the Apostles (or COTA) is having “inside-out worship” on the last Sunday of the month. This means they do the liturgy, scripture reading, singing, and Eucharist in the church and then proceed outside to serve the neighborhood. We got to be a part of trash clean-up and let us tell you... the children thought this was awesome – especially because they each got their own trash pick-it-up-gadgets! As we walked past the local bar, a group of people clapped and gave sincere thanks for those brightening the neighborhood (the pictures are Jude picking up trash and us with our "sabbatical-mates" Erik & Desta Goehner in the Fremont Abbey).

Tomorrow we head to Montana for a brief overnight at the Special K Ranch (www.specialkranch.com), a Christian ministry for adults with mental disabilities. Then we are off to Rapid City, SD where we will be staying at St. Martin’s Benedictine monastery (www.blackhillsbenedictine.com).

The Red Thread

written by Chamie

There is an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible read thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break.

Tara Molouf, who we have been staying with in the Seattle-Area, told me of this story, one she heard while she spent three weeks in China photographing her cousin’s adoption of a new baby girl (www.redthreadphoto.com).

I told Tara that I believe our sabbatical has been a story of red threads. We are grateful for amazing connections. I feel that God wanted Tara and I to meet… and up until this time of staying at her home, we had never seen each other face-to-face. Here is the story… I spoke last year at a MOPS gathering at Calvary Community Church in Westlake, CA. I talked with the moms about living in rhythm to the church year. After I spoke, one of the moms came up and said, “I have a cousin in Seattle who is a photographer and makes calendars of the church year. You two sound like you’re trying to live in the same way. You should really meet her.” That little seed opened the door to checking out each other’s websites and then several phone conversations and then Tara talking about their downstairs room that they offer to friends for retreat. All of this a red thread connection, you could say. And what a beautiful connection it has been!

One afternoon on this Seattle-leg of our journey, we went together to meet with the Mustard Seed Associates (www.msainfo.org), a community of Jesus’ followers striving to create the future one mustard seed at a time. We had tea and lemon bars with Mustard Seed leaders Christine Sine and Ricci Kilmer. We talked about family spirituality. At one point in the conversation, Christine said, “Have you heard of the book THE FAMILY CLOISTER?” I started to laugh at the ironic connections, “Why, yes,” I said, “we just had lunch yesterday with the pastor who wrote it!” Another red thread, you could say.

We are so very thankful for these grace-filled, beautiful connections. I feel sad to say goodbye to the Malouf’s this morning as it is time for us to journey to Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho. But I leave knowing that our red thread may stretch and tangle, but it will never break.


NOTE – Tara makes the most wonderful church-rhythm calendars I have ever seen. You can check it out at www.storyformed.wordpress.com. These calendars will be given to every family that attends the Family Retreat that Tim and I will be leading at El Camino Pines this November when we talk about “living in rhythm” during the next year.

Amazicle

Sabbatical has taken us back on the road again, but now in the United States. We have been traveling up the west coast with "sabbatical-mates." Pastor Erik Goehner, associate at Mount Cross Lutheran Church in Camarillo, CA, and his wife Desta and their three young children (almost the same age as ours) are on their way to Holden Village in Washington - and we're on our way to other ventures in Seattle - so we decided to travel together. It has been good to share with one another the joys and challenges that are uniquely understood by families-in-ministry.

As the ten of us traveled together today along the Oregon coast, we took a quick, unplanned road stop. It came as the result of a desperate 5-year-old squirming as he screamed, "I HAVE TO GO PEE-PEE NOW!" It was at that moment that we spotted a sign for a lighthouse trail - which had public restrooms (thank God) - and a fantastic little bay in which a crystal clear little river bed made its end. It was misting, yet gorgeous, and the children ran barefoot through the ankle-deep chilly waters to the other side of the bay, squealing with joy, spinning circles with outstretched arms, and praising life. Hannah, in breathless enthusiasm, ran in God's wonderland and exclaimed, "It's an amazicle!" And amazing-miracle, we surmised... a word that came forth out of pure and utter joy... a word that captured the beautiful moment we were all sharing. Hannah repeated the word several times. So did we.

Tonight we are all resting snugly in a 2-bedroom lovely, yet inexpensive, suite overlooking the ocean in Newport, Oregon. Tomorrow, we meet with Pastor David Robinson, a Presbyterian pastor who wrote the book THE FAMILY CLOISTER. The book came out of Robinson's experience in Benedictine monasteries and his desire to take those rhythms into his family life with his wife and three boys. The idea of "family monasticism" has a growing tug on us. After wandering through the old monasteries of England, living for a week in the monastic community of Taize, France, sitting in San Francisco and talking with Mark and Lisa Scandrette and their children about the "neo-monastic vows" of their community (www.reimagine.org), and preparing for tomorrow... well, we wonder what rhythms God may be writing anew in us???

Perspective

We are back in California on a "study week" as we prepare for our next leg of the sabbatical journey. As we reflect and "adapt," we've seen that sometimes it is all a matter of perspective...

...Hannah, for instance, on our first day back asked, "Are we going on a bus, a train, or a plane today?" That was the life she lived, after all, for three weeks!

...Jude, when we attended Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westlake for worship (where a friend pastors), Jude walked in and looked around and then said, "Wow, this place is tiny." And it must have looked tiny to a 5-year-old who had spent the last two Sundays worshipping in Notre Dame and then with 3,000 people at the church in Taize.

Words and picture give a different perspective... so we are including a link so you can see our European travels through the perspective of a picture slide show... at least that was our plan... but after two excruciating hours... of setting at it all, writing captions... then it disappeared into cyber world... and then we tried again... and it the icons just spun... and then we tried again... and then we started to cuss... and then we said ENOUGH ALREADY... oh, wait... maybe... try this:www.me.com/gallery/#100019... if it doesn't work, c'est la vie!

For now, we're off to study!

Taize

Written by Chamie

One bus, five trains, and approximately 15 hours later, we arrived back in Cambridge, England after our week in Taize, France. Our trip back was fairly uneventful and we had no interesting conversations on the trains - but lots of games of Uno. However, on the way to Taize, we met some wonderful people on the train. For now we will just tell you about Regina. She was warm and smiling. We chatted and laughed in broken French and English. Then she pulled out some bread from her backpack and broke it and gave us pieces along with the most wonderful pieces of cheese we have ever tasted. Though we were on the train to Taize and not the road to Emmaus, we still felt like the disciples who met Jesus and recognized him in the breaking of the bread. Jesus was there - with the added bonus of Burgundy cheese. It was one of the holiest communions in which we have ever partaken. As we got off the train and said "au revoiur," Regina gave us a block of cheese, noting that France can't export it to the United States. Tim said, "I will talk to President Obama about that."

We arrived at Taize to discover that we would be spending the week in the family village with 74 families from Germany (it happened to be a school holiday last week), 2 families from Holland, and us - the only family from the United States and the only native English-speaking family. It was an incredible experience. The "common language" of Taize is English, so our "opening moments" were in English. However, the Bible study lectures were not (but we had two German women who shared in translating for us). On the first day, Brother Wolfgang made note that we Dutch and Americans were the minorities and he said, "Here in Taize, we take special care and consideration of minorities. We would like you to extend such love to them." He asked for a group of families who would be willing to be in our small group and speak English during Bible study discussions and family group gatherings. Within seconds, we were surrounded by the grace of seven wonderful families who became friends. The whole experience made me ponder how I, we, the church, and our country treat the minority at home. Is it with grace and hospitality? Or is it with judgement and exclusion?

The language difference was greater for our children as most of the European children had not yet had an opportunity to learn English. Every morning, the children broke off in age-level groups for Bible study and activities. When we asked Aidan who his closest friend was, he mentioned a boy whose mother was German and father was Venezulan. "We both knew some Spanish," Aidan said. Many thanks to Senora Scott and Ascension Lutheran School (they begin Spanish in Grade 1)!!!!! We discovered, though, that the language difference wasn't really an issue. One of the parents in our group so rightfully said, "Play is the universal language." The children played and played and laughed and smiled with their new friends.

On our last day together, our small group of parents and children took water and gave thanks and marked one another with the sign of the cross and sent each other forth with words of blessing. There were many tears.

That evening, we gathered for our final time of prayer in the church and I realized I felt no tears or deep connection to the worshipping body or the brothers who live in Taize. Don't get me wrong, it was a very good week of prayer, song, and worship. However, I have a new appreciation for "incarnation" - for God becoming human flesh. In short, the only greeting you get at the door of the church is someone holding a sign that says, "silence." No one greets you when you leave. Not once did a brother speak a word of welcome or a gracious word of sending. In fact, the brothers don't ever get up to lead anything up front... it's always just candles. The brothers sit in their own area in the middle and begin the songs or read scripture from their seats. One could have a long conversation on the pros and cons of this - and Tim and I did have a rather lengthy theological discussion because that's what we seem to like to do... it's what we do for fun, you know. But in summary, I realized how much I liked welcoming people to church when I served as a full-time local pastor. It wasn't some script I said, but I really, really, really wanted people to feel welcome and at home. And I loved shaking hands as people went on their way because it is so good to connect with people, even if for a brief moment. At the center of our faith is RELATIONSHIP... it's what the Trinity is all about... it's the reason Jesus came... it's the reason our small group was so meaningful... and it's why the train ride to Taize was holy.

Pentecost

(written by Tim)

It wasn't the sound of a "mighty rushing wind..." or maybe it was. It was the organ in the Notre Dame Cathedral that we were listening to as we crowded in for the 11:30 am "international service." We soon found out that "international service" meant that there were a few English phrases thrown into the service a couple of times in the midst of the liturgy.

While this could have meant sitting there for an hour being mind-numbingly bored by the pantamiming going on up at the high altar while our kids squirmed in the tiny space we had to share as a family... it really was not that type of an experience at all. Instead it felt like true Pentecost.

It began with the procession. The chior that consisted of some of these young French people who we have been seeing all over the city... running around, smoking cigarettes, dressed in some fashion that I hope we won't see coming to America next spring. Only this time they were wearing choir robes and singing with such amazing beauty and effort and clarity. For me, I didn't need to know what words they were singing- my heart was in tune. They were worshiping our Great God and inviting me in to do the same.

Then came the priest with the incense. It made me remember the joke about the guy in the dress with the smoking purse... a little too irreverent... but then I notice what he was doing with it. He was purifying the place. He was making the place smell good, he was preparing the congregation to be a worthing offering for our Lord. Suddenly it made me remember why I was there in the first place. I was there to give God my worship.

Then our priest began to speak. I think he was from Africa. But when he spoke, he spoke in eloquent French. And then he stopped. Then he spoke in German and stopped. Then he spoke in Spanish then he stopped. Then he spoke in English... "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit...Amen." And I thought, "yup...this is exaclty where I am suppossed to be this Pentecost." Here in this church surrounded by people of so many different tongues (the Italian lady sitting next to us was so kind to give the kids life savers to keep them passified) being led by an African priest. I was reminded that I was worshiping a God who transcends any language barriers. And while I was thankful for the occasional English phrase, I realized that Pentecost was not really so much about the people hearing gospel in thier own particular language. It was bigger than that. It is about a God who could go deeper than language, right down into the heart where the language is more about yearnings and groanings. A God who can come into the midst of a place that we guard so tightly and remind us how much He loves us and how worthy He is of our worship.

I needed this experience. And I thank God for it.

NOTE - we're off to Taize in about 3 hours... we will update you when we get back.

Off to France

Written by Chamie

In a few short hours, we will be catching the train to France, so with last minute packing and the hopes of getting at least a little sleep, our words will be short. We have had such an amazing, grace-filled, full and wide journey thus far... and our heads are spinning a bit with all there is to process. So we are looking forward to the quiet simplicity of the monastic community of Taize... and though our car and train trips have been "lovely" and "brilliant" (say these in a British accent for full effect), we are sooo looking forward to not getting in a motorized vehicle for six days straight while in Taize. So... all that said... you MIGHT hear from us in the next two days if our hotel in Paris has a computer we can use. However, after that we will be completely unplugged - NO electronics whatsoever - while in Taize from Monday, June 1 through Sunday, June 7. We will update the blog on our return to England and our Cambridge-area "home-base" on Monday, June 8th. Until then, you can know that Tim continues to be up to silliness and tricks. When I said that I was missing my sunglasses that I left at home in the U.S., Tim suggested that I go into the store and ask for some "wobbly-goggles." He said this in all seriousness. I looked at him and said, "Excuse me?" He repeated himself, "You know, wobbly-goggles - that's what they call sunglasses in England." You would think after ten years of marriage, that I would know he is tricking me, but I stared at him dumbfounded, wondering if that's what I really was supposed to say. Then he burst out laughing. Fortunately, I didn't embarrass myself. But we've had our humbling moments trying to "fit in" to British life - I did learn for instance, that the British do not roam from their hotel room in Durham down to the pool in their swimsuit - only swanky Americans do such parading. Just not polite. Oops. So pray that we don't do anything too offensive in France - and that Tim behaves himself as best he can! Oh, and that his French floods back to him!

Saint Aidan

Written by Aidan

I felt exited to go to where the person I was named after lived. We went to Sunday morning worship where St. Aidan once preached. Aidan spread the word of God by walking a lot. On a sign it said, "Aidan cultivated peace and love, purity and humility; he was above anger and greed, and despised pride and conceit; he set himself to keep and teach the laws of God, and was diligent in study and prayer. He used his priestly authority to keep the proud and the powerful in check; he tenderly comforted the sick; he relieved and protected the poor." I took a picture by two different Aidan statues, but we can't show the pictures yet because we don't have the right thing. I bought a quill and ink like they used to write the Bible.

Underground

Driving has done us well. We've made it from the southern part of England through the "Midlands" to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and now to Durham. Tomorrow, we return to our "home base" near Cambridge and turn in the rental car. The rest of the time here in Europe, we will be traveling by train or by bus.

There are many, many things we could say... but one theme that has connected our different parts of England is "underground." In Bath, we saw what treasure an everyday-dig brought forth - the discovery of the ancient Roman baths. Not far from there, we took the children to Wookey Hole where we explored underground caves with a spectacularly clear river running through it. In northern England, we explored castles and saw the "underground" very scary dungeons. On the Holy Island*, the road went underground - or maybe better said "underwater" - as it does each day as the tide comes in and out. You can only travel to and from the island at certain times... thus we arrived by road in the morning and left when the road reappeared in the evening.

So much story lies beneath. In fact, maybe it is safe to say that the real story lies beneath. This is true of our own individual stories, too. People meet each other at surface level and we often get no further - not even at church. But we have stories underneath - sometimes terrifying and hurtful (like dungeons)... sometimes healing (like the baths)... sometimes intriguing (like the road to the island)... but those stories always reveal something. So dig into your own story... we've had to do some digging into ours... like Chamie discovering that "Lord Shelburne" (that's her maiden name, an English name) is a well-known, prominent man around here. We've had to wrestle with our undersides, the good and bad that travel brings out of you. There are so many stories underneath... so, yes, listen and learn from your own underground story... and take the time, too, to get to know someone else a little bit deeper.

We will tell you more story when we get the chance. Until then, thank you for the prayers; you are in ours, too.



* We will have Aidan write to you about the Holy Island - where St. Aidan was a missionary in 635 AD.

Driving Lessons

Written by Chamie

After several panicked gasps from me, after several snarls from Tim, and after approximately 23 wrong turns (those damn British roundabouts), we concluded that driving through England could be a very strong test of our marriage. Getting to and from Coventry yesterday was quite a... spectacle, I guess you could say. If you are unfamiliar with Coventry, the cathedral there was bombed during World War II. The ruins stand next to the newly built cathedral as a testament to peace and reconciliation. As I made my way up the stairs and stood before the rubbled altar, I could do nothing but weep. I felt heavy with the weight of war and hate and violence. I imagined what my grandfather must have faced when he fought in Europe. I thought of him crying decades later as he held my mother's hand while watching SAVING PRIVATE RYAN at the movie theater. And then the words of Jesus, there at that rubbled altar, spoke to me in an utterly overwhelming way, "Father, forgive them." I couldn't stop my tears. We as Christians are called to such radical forgiveness. This also includes forgiving our husbands for getting in the wrong lane, our wives for muttering over errors and maps, and the British for their roundabouts.

Today was much easier in terms of driving. It helps when you are following a local. We have been richly blessed with Mr. and Mrs. George & Linda Denman, the parents-in-law of one of Tim's best friends from high school. They live in a little place called Stoney Stratton. The NEW part of their home was built in 1796 - the older part, probably about 300 years before that. We are all quite taken by the fact that we have been warmly welcomed into this beautiful historical home - with such lovely grounds to boot. Today Linda led us to Wells Cathedral and Glastonbury Abbey. We stopped on the roadside to picnic in a random meadow on the way between the two locations; the children thought this was rather grand. Tim and I were struck, in particular, by Glastonbury. It is said to be the beginning point of Christianity in England. Today, though much-visited, the abbey lies in ruins, not due to bombing, but reformation, changing tides, neglect... After touring the abbey grounds, Tim and I strolled the main street of town and noted a shop for physic reading, a Sufi library, a store called Ying and Yang, places to buy things like crystals and candles and oils, and about every other form of spirituality you can imagine. In the car on the way home, we talked about how you live the truth of Jesus in such an eclectic world. We were able to talk theology and drive safely at the same time - a true accomplishment.

Tonight we lit the candle and gave thanks for forgiveness, truth, the light of Jesus, hospitality, grace, and safe travels. Amen.

Rhythm: ALL MIXED UP

We meant to "wrap up" talking about the family rhythms of prayer, study, work, play, and rest while at Avila Beach. But I guess you could say we got too busy working (yes, even on sabbatical, there is the work of dishes and laundry and confirmation of travel plans and so on and so on)... and we did get too busy playing and resting as well.

And then today we arrived in England and we're not really sure what time it is and Chamie still doesn't feel she has yet got her "land feet" back and all the cars are on the wrong side of the road, so you could say our rhythm is all mixed up. But we had a pint of beer with friends at the local pub and our gathered six children became fast friends in the matter of seconds and we still lit our candle tonight before going to bed.

Tomorrow morning, we head out to sights of Christian history - like Salsibury Cathedral. We had a little glimpse of history tonight when we poked our heads in the old church on our way back from the pub. The choir was practicing, so the old building is still a place of present worship. But on the wall were listed the names of the abbots - the first one starting in 1160. We invite you to ponder for a moment - to try to wrap your head around - how many faithful followers of Jesus have gone before us. We are part of an enormous, beautiful - and true, sometimes heartbreaking - yet amazing story. We look forward to sharing with you the weaving of old stories with new stories. For now, though, goodnight... or good morning... or whatever the heck time it is. May you know that we have arrived here well and good and we pray that you are well and good, too.

Rhythm: STUDY

Written by Chamie

We've been grateful to live in this rhythm of prayer/worship... starting and closing our days with the prayer candle... Sundays worshipping with family and friends...  It is something we can carry with us wherever we go.

Another rhythm we have been choregraphing is "study." In some ways, you could say that it is the first sabbatical rhythm we adopted because we had to prepare out of necessity - Aidan would normally be attending 2nd grade at school. When Tim started applying for sabbatical grants, one of the first people we spoke to was Principal Lavik. "How might this look for Aidan?" we asked. 

Aidan has been blessed with a curiosity for life. He always likes to explore, ask questions, and discover a new place, person, or thing. On his own volition and unbeknownst to us, he took a crowded page of sermon notes last Sunday. We were rather impressed as well as amused at them when he showed us after worship. It was also Aidan who coined the word "modattical." It stands for "mom," "dad," and "sabbatical." Everyday we have "Modattical School." They even have "uniforms" which all three children made themselves and are rather proud of. Currently, we are attempting to finish all of Aidan's second grade book studies prior to leaving for England. 

Morning study has become a rhythm for us. But Aidan isn't the only one studying - we all are. We desire to carry this spirit of wanting to grow and learn with us our entire lives. Each day, Tim and I take turns grabbing a book and heading to the local beachside coffee shop to study.* Our study-buddy Aidan joins us and sits across the table with his own studies. In addition, "Mr. Modattical" (aka Dad) has taken the children down to the beach for P.E. class where they play soccer. Madame Modattical (aka Mom) has attempted teaching French (with a CD).

How can any of us play a sport well or know how to communicate in a different language or gain the skills of a profession if we don't study them? Study has been a key component of the Christian life across the ages. This has, of course, always included the study of scripture, but also the study of subjects like science, literature, language, history, and astronomy. In fact, did you know that Sunday School began NOT as a means to teach children scripture (they did that at home) but as a means to teach children the basics of reading, writing, and artithmatic? Children commonly were in the labor force in those days and were unable to go to school during the week. Thus the church concluded they could serve children by helping their minds on Sundays. Furthermore, do you know that Martin Luther said if he could be anything other than a pastor, he would be a teacher?** John Wesley and the Methodists (I just can't let Luther have the last word here), emphasized the importance of "faith and knowledge." When I served as campus pastor at South Dakota State University, it was the words "where faith and knowledge meet" that were etched into the cornerstone of our Wesley Center Chapel. 

May "study" be for you not drudgery or burden, but blessing and passion and possibility! I have this theory that the more we study the stars and the octopus and the human cell and the history of the world and the literary greats and the theories of therapy - and, yes, the words of scripture - the more we will have seen and heard God.

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* WHAT ARE WE READING ON SABBATICAL? In case you are wondering, Tim has thus far read The Contemplative Pastor by Eugune Peterson and The Reason for God by Timothy Keller. He is now reading Sabbath by Wayne Muller and Grace-Based Parenting by Timothy Kimmel. I have read An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor and The Danger of Raising Nice Kids by Timothy Smith, and several essays from The Child in Christian Thought by Marcia Bunge. I'm now reading Growing Compassionate Kids by Jan Johnson as well as Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson.

** SO, I CONFESS... LUTHER HAS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT STUDY AND EDUCATION... HERE'S A FEW:

“If I could leave the preaching office and my other duties, or had to do so, there is no other office I would rather have than that of schoolmaster or teacher ... for I know that next to that of preaching, this is the best, greatest, and most useful office there is ... It surely has to be one of the supreme virtues on earth faithfully to train other people’s children....”

“I shall say nothing here about the pure pleasure a [person] gets from having studied, even though he never holds an office of any kind, how at home by himself he can read all kinds of things, talk and associate with educated people, and travel and do business in foreign lands....”

“You parents cannot prepare a more dependable treasure for your children than an education in the liberal arts…”

“What do we older folks live for if not for the care of the young, to teach and train them? The prosperity of a city does not depend on the accumulation of great riches, the building of walls and houses.... Rather, a city’s greatest and best prosperity, salvation, and power is this that it has many fine, learned, sensible, righteous, well-trained Christian citizens.”

Rhythm: WORSHIP

Written by Tim

I have had two weeks to think about worship…. and two weeks of struggling as to what to say. I have concluded that worship is just too big of a subject, so I will simply share a couple of thoughts that I have been chewing on…

Here’s one… people in our culture often ask, “Well, why should I even go to church?” Perhaps they rationalize by saying, “Well, I can worship anywhere - out in nature, at home, in the shower.” Or perhaps they say, “Church is boring.” Churches in the United States, on any given weekend, have about a third of their membership in worship. Some of those folks who don’t show up might be traveling or sick, but most have simply lost the priority of being a part of weekly worship. Why doesn’t one go to worship? Well, if the answer is sports, then I would say that sports is the priority. If the answer is “church is boring” then the maybe priority is entertainment.

To me the question really is “why not go to church?” While this is a bit self-serving - I am a pastor after all - I think going to weekly worship at with the gathered church is such and important rhythm to get into. It helps us each week to give glory to God, to hear the story of Jesus, and to refocus on the mission God gives us.

Every morning I am reminded of the delight that God takes in us worshipping. I have observed that as each one of my kids wake up in the morning on sabbatical, they don’t head right toward the kitchen to get food, or to the living room to turn on the TV, or even go to the bathroom. Rather, they come and find their parents and say, “Good morning! I love you!” There is nothing like this to start my day. It’s all I need to keep me going. In many ways, I think this is what people are doing when they gather together to worship God. In many ways, I wonder if God feels the same way as me… only more.

And one more thought… I also think that worship is not ever meant to be laborious. It really is meant to be an automatic response to God’s grace. For this reason worship isn’t just a “Sunday morning thing.” It is (and there are many words I can use here) a “lifestyle.” Jesus once said “those who have eyes to see let them see.” In my sabbatical rest, my eyes have been a bit more open to see the pervasive presence of God more often. I have been able to think a bit more about God’s incredible, abundant provision. It has caused moments of utter gratitude.

I was riding my bike out in the midst of the vineyards of the central coast. It was just me, my bike, and the birds and the grapes. A car couldn’t be spotted for miles. I thought of the Annie Dillard quote when she was out on stroll in Tinker Creek, “with every step one foot was saying ‘glory’ and the other was saying ‘amen!’” With every pedal one foot was saying “glory” and the other was say “amen.”

I have so many other thoughts about the great Catholic and Methodist churches at which we have worshipped, but I will spare you…for a time.

NOTE - We've had the great blessing of worshipping at the San Luis Obispo Mission where my brother, sister-in-law, and three nephews are members. They also joined us, along with my sister Judy who lives in nearby Shell Beach, when we worshipped at the Methodist Church where Chamie's friend and colleague, Rev. Jane Voigts, serves as pastor.

SETTING RHYTHM

…written by Chamie

Some rhythms seem effortless to get into… like drinking a glass of red wine each night on the balcony while gazing at the sparkling blue ocean and saying farewell to the sun as it dips behind the rolling hill. I’ve found this a really easy rhythm to adopt here at Avila Beach.

Other rhythms are a little more challenging. But we hear the invitation of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew to try a new dance:

"Are you tired? Worn out? Come to me. Get away with me and you will recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly."

“The unforced rhythms of grace.” That is a phrase that has beckoned Tim and me for quite some time now. It is what called us to make this first part of sabbatical about “setting rhythm,” about creating a “rule of life” so we can live in such grace. St. Benedict, many centuries ago, developed a “rule” for those who lived in monastic community together. “Rule” can often be seen as a heavy or negative word for people. But in the spiritual life, Adelle Calhoun says that rules “aren’t a burdensome list of do’s and don’ts, enumerating everything you might do in a day. Life-giving rules are a brief and realistic scaffold of disciplines that support your heart’s desire to grow in loving God and loving others.” Tim and I call this “rhythms of grace.”

There are five rhythms we are fleshing out here, five rhythms we hope to take with us on this entire sabbatical journey. They are central to the life of the Benedictines. During the next couple of weeks, we will take each one of those rhythms and share our thoughts with you… get ready to…

pray,
study,
work,
play,
and rest.


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Note… we will be leading a Family Retreat at El Camino Pines Bible Camp in Frazier Park, CA the weekend of November 13-15 based off the sabbatical experience. You can find more information at www.raisingmicah.org under “Events & Faith Communities.” Registration forms are also available at Ascension Lutheran Church & School and Lifesong Christian Communities. You may sign up at anytime, but a discounted rate is in effect through May 17, 2009.

Beginnings

We hit the road Tuesday morning for Avila Beach, CA, where we will spend the next three weeks (phase one of sabbatical). We are staying in a home graciously donated by members of Ascension Lutheran Church. They told us they believe in sabbatical because of what it can do not only for the pastor/family involved, but for the local church, and beyond that, the larger church… a place called the kingdom of God.

We had barely been on the road five minutes when song broke out in the car. We are not sure which child started it, but to the tune of “A-Hunting We Will Go,” they all began singing, “Sabbatical we will go, sabbatical we will go…” They clapped. They cheered. They laughed. They were obviously very excited.

Their energy did not cease when we arrived at the beach house where they explored their room, picked out their bed, and set up camp. Unlike their parents, they hadn’t spent the last days packing and preparing and staying up into the wee hours; they had simply been anticipating. We, though, were exhausted!

Even though we had sleepy eyes, we were glad to gather around our “altar” for evening prayer. An altar is a place that marks the presence of God. The standing wood cross given to Chamie by her friend Carolyn sits on our altar. So does the “travel” Bible given to Aidan by Ms. Hoskinson (from the preschool). And then there is Hannah’s prayer book from Lutheran Pastor Steve (a designation in our home because of mommy’s colleague Methodist Pastor Steve), as well as Jude’s triangle to ring us into prayer. At the very center, is the candle.

At the send-off dinner at Ascension on Sunday night, we were presented with a large pillar candle. The idea is that we will light it when we pray. Another identical pillar candle will travel through families at Ascension Church & School as they pray and write in the journal that goes with the candle. It is based off the experience of theologian Henri Nouwen who took a sabbatical nearly nearly fifteen years ago and wrote this:

"During my farewell celebration… two large blue candles were presented to me, one for me to take on my journey, and one to go from house to house in the community. They are prayer candles and are meant to remind me and those who sent me of our commitment to each other… Community is so much more than living and working together. It is a bond of the heart that has no physical limitations. Indeed it is candles burning in different places of the world, all praying the same silent prayer of friendship and love."

We are thankful for the candle, for just lighting it is a form of prayer, and we remember the community that sent us. We are also aware of other communities and people that travel with us… friends and family… Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Other… people we will meet on the way. Throughout the next three months, our candles will shrink, but our prayers and altars will grow. Our plan is to find something to add to our altar at every stop we make… Avila Beach… London and Cambridge and Coventry… cathedrals like St. Paul’s and Salisbury… the Holy Island of Lindisfarne… Notre Dame… the monastic community of Taize… the Redwood Forests… … the Oregon coast… Seattle… Bonner’s Ferry, ID… Columbus, MT… the Black Hills… Huron, SD… Luther Seminary… Lake Wapogasset Bible Camp… Fort Collins, CO… Garden of the Gods… Glenwood Springs… Mammoth Lakes…

Thank you for journeying with us. We pray that we will all grow in our knowledge and experience of the kingdom of God and that we may bear witness to that light! Amen, Amen!

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I really, really, really love spending time with my family.”
- said out of the blue by Jude Delkeskamp while driving in the van


Note… we will be leading a Family Retreat at El Camino Pines Bible Camp in Frazier Park, CA the weekend of November 13-15 based off the sabbatical experience. You can find more information at www.raisingmicah.org under “Events & Faith Communities.” Registration forms are also available at Ascension Lutheran Church & School and Lifesong Christian Communities. You may sign up at anytime, but a discounted rate is in effect through May 17, 2009.

Epilogue- April 14th

Dear Friends,

Thank you! I really appreciated the journey that we took together in these past 40 days of Lent. Your willingness to read my reflections, your encouraging comments and just the very idea of studying the Lord’s Prayer together as a community helped me to understand the Lord’s Prayer in a deeper way than ever before.

As a pastor, my next step is to go with my family on a Sabbatical for 3 months. After 2 years of planning, applying for grants, educating and gathering support from the congregation, I really can’t believe it is almost here.

I am so deeply grateful to my congregation and the many individuals within it who have gone out of their way to provide me with the support I have needed to make it happen!
In short, the topic of my sabbatical is “Family Spirituality.” We will go to many great places and spend time in the Benedictine rhythm of studying, working, resting, playing and praying together. We will also be posting updates right here on my blog. It won’t be daily- more like weekly. And the blogs will come from me, my wife and perhaps my children. So if you would like to continue to be a part of my blog- you will receive these updates. If you would like to discontinue the emails you can simply click the “unsubscribe” feature that comes with this email.
Have a wonderful Easter season. God’s abundant blessings to you!
Pastor Tim