I intend for my Sabbatical to be a spiritual as well as physical journey. Recently I have begun taking spiritual direction through the Cristo Center for Spiritual Direction in Lino Lakes. My small group is experiencing Lectio Divina, an ancient practice of listening to the voice of God speaking to me through scriptures. I am finding that intentional morning prayer, beyond asking guidance for my day, is amazing. Today, as I listen to Jesus say to me "my peace I give to you," my heart has received a great sense of calm. Not that I am anxious....but that I pray I am able to share Jesus' peace with those I encounter today in my words and actions.

Getting Ready

It is an interesting process as I make travel and lodging arrangements for my sabbatical. I do a lot of projecting myself into the apartments and trying to visualize what "feel" I will get while there. Of course, it is all guesswork...who knows what things will truly be like. But last night, after having spent over two hours online searching places to stay in Nice, I handed the whole process over to God. For me, I believe that when we pray for something, God will bless it, and so I need to now trust that whatever apartments I select, God will bless our time there. So be it.