In 2011, I will celebrate 20 years of ordained ministry. After two decades, I stand at a critical vocational and spiritual crossroad. Ten years ago, when I began ministry with college women, I was pumped up, excited, and full of energy. We have done amazing work. There have been many successes and many challenges. College ministry is very different from church ministry. In the academy, there exists a religious ambivalence that intensifies the normal fatigue associated with ministry. A sabbatical will allow me to create “breathing space” to find my way back to the excitement and energy that revived religious life on campus 10 years ago.

My sabbatical will begin with a three-week spiritual pilgrimage to Europe. I will recharge my heart, soul and mind, and deepen my spiritual practices by developing an early morning quiet time guided by prayer, journaling, reading, and long walks. Visiting religious and historical sites in France and Italy will transform my religious experience and deepen my appreciation for religious culture, art and architecture. I will spend two months between home and the ocean continuing the rhythms of quiet time, reflecting on college ministry, writing, and devoting quality time to nurturing family and personal relationships.