My wife and I, together with our three sons (ages 12-16), are planning to embark upon a three month sabbatical bicycle pilgrimage of approximately 7800 kilometres across Canada from Vancouver on the west coast to St. Johns, Newfoundland on the east.

In eight years of pastoral ministry, one of my greatest challenges has been to devote adequate attention to my family in the midst of vocational responsibilities.

So, for this my first sabbatical, we are together planning a pilgrimage of:
1) simplicity and discipline—as we cycle and camp for three months, taking with us only what our bikes can carry;
2) exertion and rest—cycling approximately 100 kilometres per day six days a week, then (worshipping and receiving hospitality in Mennonite communities on Sundays;
3) prayer, song and spiritual reading—in the morning and evening praying the daily office (together as a family, in the evenings singing together around the campfire, and also listening (to my wife Sandra read to us; and)
4) exploration and discovery—as we observe and absorb the diverse stories of our great country, and reflect on what these might say into our own multicultural context at Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond.