Why I’m Looking Forward to a Sabbatical

Over at TGC is a great piece by Michael Morgan on What I Learned About Sabbaticals by Finally Taking One.

Despite teaching biblical studies and theology for nearly ten years I’ve never had a sabbatical. Since I’ve changed institutions twice (began at Highland Theological College went to Brisbane School of Theology then to Ridley Melbourne) I’ve departed  just when I’ve been due for a sabbatical and then had to go to the bottom of the cue again (though Ridley has graciously fast tracked my next sabbatical). So I am very much looking forward to my sabbatical in the second half of 2014. I might finally get something written for a change!!!

Though I am often lauded for being a highly productive chap, I confess that age, health, and family circumstances have slowed me down considerably, and I’m not terribly saddened by it.  In my late twenties and early thirties, it was possible to teach and do admin during the day, and then in the evenings, spend time with my wife Naomi, put babies to bed, and spend 2100 to 0100 working on various publishing projects six nights a week. Occasional insomnia was actually a publishing enabler. However, as time went on, children needed more time, work responsibilities increased, speaking invitations multiplied, more editing gigs took place, and insomnia became chronic (climaxing in a mini-break down Jan 2011). I’m now more content to take things easier, try to keep deadlines rather than obey them like slave masters, be more discerning about projects I agree to do, invest time in my Ph.D students, chillax more, enjoy the kids why they are young, look after that cute wifey of mine, and just try to stop and smell the roses more often.

So I’m looking forward to a sabbatical as a time of refreshing with a slower pace, focus on finishing a few projects (this endless Romans commentary, start a NT Theology, hopefully take the kids on a foreign speaking invitation or two as a working holiday, and a few other tid bits).