January 8, 2025
Hau’oli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year!
It’s been a while since I’ve written about my upcoming sabbatical, and since it begins on February first, I guess I’d better write about it now!
The first thing to tell you is this: I will be coming back. My sabbatical runs from February 1, 2025, to April 30, 2025.
A sabbatical is a time for a pastor to step away from the regular rhythms of church life and leadership in order to find refreshment in learning new things, engaging in different activities, and taking time for the spirit. Some ministers travel, some take advantage of available classes, some go on retreat, and some take on projects that day-to-day pastoring leaves little time for.
My sabbatical has two primary projects. In this Pastor’s Corner, I’ll write about the first. I intend to visit each of the islands of Hawai’i.
Partially because of the pandemic, I’ve only visited O’ahu and Maui since moving here in 2016. Those islands have their own blessings and their own characters, and I’m eager not just to learn more about them, but also to learn something about Kauai, Moloka’i, and Lana’i. I hope to understand the people of the islands better after spending time in different places.
I also plan to seek refreshment there. As many of you have deduced, my soul rejoices in the beauties of nature, and in echoing a bit of their richness in photography. I’ll have my camera along, and I’ll bring home images to share.
The bulk of the sabbatical, however, I expect to spend here in Hilo, and I’ll write about the reason for that in the next Pastor’s Corner.
Blessings to you all!
In peace,
Pastor Eric
Photo by Eric Anderson.
