The Board of Directors have agreed to give me a 4-week sabbatical to deal with this cancer, once the procedure begins.  There are many options I have with early stage prostate cancer.  This is my decision to make, and not anyone else’s, and after much research and prayer, I have decided to pursue robotic surgery to remove the prostate.  This will require an overnight stay in the hospital and a couple of weeks off work for recovery.

A ‘sabbatical’ is a form of the word ‘sabbath’ which means rest.  It is separate from a vacation because I don’t have four weeks’ of vacation left this year and plan to work at home during this time.

I’ve got a wonderful staff at the church and know that everything will continue without a flaw in my absence.  I plan to work at home on that sabbatical and put sermon plans together well into next year.  Except for a wedding next weekend, there is nothing the rest of the year that would fall apart without me.  And I want to do it this year because I’ve already met my hefty insurance deductible!

Keep praying.  The next step is to meet with the specialist that does these robotic surgeries, which is scheduled for Friday.

Tags: cancer, rest, sabbath