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Almost one year has passed since I joined the Centre. It has been a challenge for me to transfer from the church to a university, to support Christian education in schools and to develop the faith of students and in-service teachers. In the second half of my work life, this change can be an adventure.
The courage to face new challenge depends on whether you are well prepared or not. I am grateful to the Lord and the church for my ten-month sabbatical leave starting from late 2015. It allowed me to regain spiritual nourishment and renew my calling and focus. Sabbath is not just to take a rest. It means also to review, to discover and consolidate. Life can be pruned gradually. Listen to the voice of the Lord. Feel the pulse of the times, and then continue the journey again.
Many people asked me what I had done in those ten months. I always summarized the sabbatical months in these few words: "Eagles soar on wings. Strain toward what is ahead".
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)
During sabbatical leave, the most important thing is not "what to do" but "what not to do". The most important thing to do in the sabbatical is to pause and listen. If you have burn-out symptoms, you can consider the following ways to rest:
1. Retreat and listen. Organize life.
How do I regularly retreat and review my life situation?
2. Do something that touches you.
How can I re-discover the "interesting aspect" of people and things around me?
3. Find the interest that renew yourself.
How can I start or re-start my long-buried interest?
4. My predecessors for me. I for my descendants.
How can I trust young people by building a youth community?
5. Keep on learning.
How can I keep up with the changing society in terms of mentality and knowledge?
6. Follow the call from the Lord
Am I convinced that the Lord placed me in this community to serve? How do I consider “to stay” and “to start anew”?
7. Succession of value of life
Before my life comes to the end, what precious values do I pass on to others?
With joy, I am ready to enter the second year of service here.
Servant pastor
Rev. Benedict Shum
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