Why My Soul Needed a Sabbatical (And Yours Might Too)

On a sabbatical trip to Sicily, Italy, May 2024. 

The Spirituality of Sabbatical: Finding Rest and Renewal

We are designed to need rest. There are countless biological reasons for this. Just as nature has its cycles—no plant thrives without a dormant season, not even the evergreens—so do we. Our need for rest is embedded in creation itself.

But beyond the physical, our souls require rest. In a world filled with constant inputs, we need time to pause and process, to make room for the new. This isn’t just an introvert thing; it’s a human thing.

Our emotions and hearts take longer to process life than our minds. While our brains might keep churning on the right mix of caffeine and deadlines, eventually, they too run out of steam. We are not machines, and no amount of productivity can replace the deep need for rest and reflection.

The Purpose of My Sabbatical

My sabbatical isn’t just about taking a break.

It’s about reconnecting with the deep joy that doesn’t have space to express itself in my daily life here in Canada.

For me, this sabbatical is an invitation to rediscover a part of myself that thrives in a world full of kindness, beauty, wonder, and God. I’ve had experiences of profound hospitality and warmth in other cultures that have shaped me deeply. Over the past five years of living in Toronto, I’ve only encountered this kind of connection with people who have also spent time in different parts of the world. There’s a part of me that craves those moments again.

I also sense that this time away will offer me the clarity and direction I need for the next steps in my life.

I need to experience the deep beauty and joy of simply being alive.

I need to trust that Life, and God, will take care of me and provide, even when I’m not actively striving.

I need to feel that my life has intrinsic worth, not because of what I can produce, but because of who I am.

Rediscovering Kindness and Beauty in the World

I need to be reminded that there are good people on this earth. I want to meet them, talk to them, and carry their stories with me in my heart.

I need to see deserts, mountains, volcanoes, islands, and oceans—to witness the beauty God spread across this earth for us to enjoy.

I need to dive into the depths of the ocean and sail across its vastness.

I need to make international friends, hear different accents, and immerse myself in the diversity of humanity.

And perhaps most importantly, I need to leave behind my camera, social media, and the constant pull of the internet.

I need to step away from these distractions for months at a time so that I can truly feel the pulse of the world and experience life more fully.

A Sacred and Personal Journey

This sabbatical is sacred to me. I never knew, when I was traveling in my early twenties, that those journeys would provide the hope and resilience I would lean on in the years that followed.

And now, as I embark on this new chapter, I don’t know what this sabbatical will do to me. But I know it will refill my soul in deep and meaningful ways for the chapter ahead.

So, I step forward into the unknown, trusting that God is leading me to something far better than I can imagine.