The opening of a gift

So it begins.

Today I officially begin my sabbatical, and so also start a blog (a contraction of 'web log'). Here I hope to spend some time journalling and sharing my thoughts and experiences with friends like you. It seemed to me an easy way to keep as many people as are interested 'in the loop' over the course of the next 4+ months while I explore different approaches to the visiual arts in corporate and personal worship, in books, hands on experiences, exciting new places and my own reflections. So from time to time, I'll type out some words, post some pictures, and maybe a video every now and then.

Thus, part of the beginning of my sabbatical will include figuring out how to run a blog. I'm guessing it won't prove too difficult. For those of you who are following a blog for the very first time, I believe that you can click below on 'Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) ' and the site will walk you through subscribing so that you will get notices via email when something new is posted.

I've set up a sort of home office for the duration of the sabbatical, in the corner of our living room (see photo). Some of you will recognixe the 'free-form open sorting' approach to desk organization from visits to my office at the church. I'm hoping that I'll be able to clear out some of the piles of mundane stuff over the next couple of days--including some of the pile from my office that I wound up taking home on Friday. We may also take down the wonderful 'Happy Birthday' sign the kids put up last month for Christa.

But none of that will happen today. Today is the sabbath day, a day to set aside all such stuff and to rest. So I will lay aside the launching of this blog, have a leisurely breakfast, and enter the day.

May you too be blessed to find a way to enter sabbath, and find the renewal that comes from re-creation.