Sabbatical

I am of the considered opinion that no one cares how busy other people are.  I don’t. I sit in meetings and someone says, “I’m really busy . . . “ and I tune out. Having said that, I want you to know I am busier these days than I have ever been in my life.  The pace is taking a toll.

“How does one remember God, reach for God, realize God in the midst of one’s life if one is being constantly overwhelmed by that life?” (Christian Wiman, My Bright Abyss)

I am of the considered opinion that I don’t have a clue how to answer that question.

And so, because of that, I am taking a sabbatical from The 12.  Today’s my last day, although some might argue my last day was over a month ago, because that’s the last time I published anything of substantive content here.  More than not having time to write it, I don’t have time to think about it.  I’ve got nothing.  I have agreed to try and come back in three months, but we’ll see.

There are two other things going on besides the pace of my life that will be factors in making an ultimate decision about returning.

First, I feel a need to be quiet.  The amount of words and noise in the world today are overwhelming.  I am tired of adding to the noise.

Second, I feel like The 12 is in need of some fresh voices.  I was asked to write for The 12 in 2011, and remember that I posted the initial entry on the site. (I asked the question, “Do Calvinists Believe in Luck?” I am still waiting for an answer.) I also remember asking the person who invited me to be one of The 12, “How long are you expecting me to do this?”  The answer was one year.  Four years later, not only am I ready for a break, I feel the site is ready for some new voices.  Different voices.  Non-middle-aged-white-male voices. (And who am I kidding, calling myself middle-aged?  The only way I’m middle-aged is if I live to be 112.)

So let this be a not-too-subtle cue to my fellow 12ers.  Think about it.  Let’s make our membership a little looser and give a platform to some newer voices.  Not all 12 of us at once, but, once again, I have a considered opinion, and it’s that a couple of others should join me in taking a break.  I don’t have an opinion as to who that should be. I will leave it up to you.  But we need a jolt of something new.

I am looking forward to a break.

Grace and Peace,

Jeff