Sabbatical: Reflections from Rest … The Invitation

I recently looked back on my results from Tom Rath’s book, Strength Finders 2.0. This is an incredible personality assessment which narrows down top talents and encourages readers to invest energy doing what best suits their strengths instead of spending energy improving areas of weakness.

Brilliant.

What I found was fascinating. I have taken the test twice, a decade apart, and both times my talents were the same with the exception of two.

Friends…We truly are uniquely and wonderfully made!

I am proud of my results and agree they are true. Reading the list on paper I’m struck with awe – pondering how God created each of us to display His glory so individually.

Here are my findings….

1. Communication

2. Positivity

3. Discipline

4. Woo

5. Activator

6. Developer

Wonderful. But not restful.

So when I sat before the Lord and knew He was asking me to embrace more stillness and less doing, I didn’t know where to begin.

I am a goal setter!

An activator! (See number five! LOL) I develop things!

How does one develop… nothing? Hmmm.

Suddenly, I recalled Paul’s voice to the Thessalonians.

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your business and working with your hands.1 Thessalonians 4:11

“There’s a goal.” God whispered.

Funny.

So… being a disciplined person, I now knew my goal (live a quiet life) and I wanted to develop the best strategy to do…nothing!

I needed a plan.

I went to work in prayer asking God, “how!?” How do I effectively do nothing?

It is 2022, I wrestled.

We live attached to phones, connected to thousands via social media. All information in the history of time is housed in a browser….

“Live a quiet life.”

I have three teenage boys. I own a business.

“Live a quiet life.”

I have ministry responsibilities and take care of my grandmother.

“Live a quiet life.”

But bills and budget.

“Live a quiet life.”

It was very clear to me that “living a quiet life” was a non-negotiable. The “how” was a hazy as the day long but the invitation was not.

“Live a quiet life.“

(This blog is part of a series I wrote while on a six week sabbatical. I am excited to share. Check back periodically as I share more of an unfolding that has changed my life.)