For ten years, I have served Seattle Children’s Hospital as chaplain and manager of Pastoral and Spiritual Care. I have had the privilege of hearing thousands of stories; sharing hundreds of prayers; accompanying numerous families through their child’s death. I have felt the enormous grief of patients and families, listened intently as staff members reviewed their own fatigue, grief and challenges. My ministry is deeply meaningful and exciting but also exhausting and demanding. During these years, my husband and I have been blessed by the births of three children. But it has been very difficult to find a good work and personal life balance.

My sabbatical will be focused on opportunities to catch and release. I plan to spend time catching God’s spirit on two retreats, catching my children’s laughter as we play together, catching up on my rest, catching up with friends and family, catching up on self-care tools by studying poetry and journaling with an instructor. Using these opportunities, I expect to release the sadness, grief and exhaustion that come from my pastoral work with hospitalized children, their families, and hospital staff.