Diary of a Mad Housewife-Mother-Church Worker-etc.

by Melinda Mischik

Hello everyone,
My plans were to take a month long Sabbatical beginning on February 7th. The Episcopal Church encourages this and it is a good thing. The thinking is that a person who works at a church needs a break sometimes no matter how fabulous that church happens to be. We are encouraged to take some time away to gain perspective. This historically often results in a deepening of a ministry or the decision that it is time to pursue another position. The purpose for me was to stop, reflect, read and contemplate. I have been working for a very long time with no break such as this one and I was very, very excited about the prospect.

Well, my plans did not exactly work out. On January 19th I managed to break my leg getting out of bed on an already sprained ankle. I felt scared, hurt, stupid and really, really disappointed. I have to admit it made me slow down. This time has not been the spiritual retreat I had planned. It has been a month of often frantic scheduling due to many factors. I was not ready to be absent yet. I left people hanging which I really, really hate. I felt mentally and physically depleted. However, the gifts from this experience have been immense.  Thank you to all of you for the meals, magazines, books, chocolate, rides, calls, and cards that I have received. The people of St. Martin's are completely amazing!
And I could not imagine how much I would have missed the children. They are such a gift from God to me - and all the rest of you too. Our chapel leaders and Sunday school teachers have been generous and gracious and we are so blessed with them.
Most importantly there has grown a compassion in me for others that was simply not there in this way before my hop off that bed.
Compassion for the impoverished and suffering as in Haiti, obviously, but also for those disappointed by plans gone wrong - both big and small. In fact maybe it is the little disappointments that are so hard because those desires seemed so accessible, but sometimes are simply not to be.

So in the end I am grateful beyond my imagination for all the gifts bestowed on me.

I do not know when my sabbatical might actually happen but I know that what I have received is so much greater and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for it. Also please know that you can call 770-337-9854 anytime for a ride or a casserole. I am forever in your debt.