Reprinted with permission from Vested Interests, an occasional newsleter for the Vestries and Lay Leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, Volume 2, Number 2, Easter 1997

Bishop Thompson reflects upon his recent sabbatical

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Russell and I had high hopes for our Sabbatical time. We had looked for renewal, refreshment, a deeper understanding of the context of our ministry and of course deeper commitment to this ministry to which our Lord has called us.

I did not expect a conversion experience. But conversion was the gift that was given us.

With a group of Episcopalians from New York and Virginia we set out from JFK Airport to "walk in the footsteps of St. Paul. " Our journey took us to Thessaloniki, to Phillipi, and to Corinth where, on Sunday at the Eucharist in an outdoor amphitheater, we were joined by other Christian pilgrims - Presbyterians, Seventh Day Adventists, and others - who saw us at worship. In Christ there really is no East or West but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth. We journeyed to Ephesus (what a magnificent city it must have been - marble columned avenues running up to the harbor), and to the place where Lydia was baptized. We prayed at the prison where Paul and Timothy were held, where their prayer and singing prompted an earthquake. We went to Patmos where John was exiled and received the vision of the end of time and then to the seven churches of which he wrote in the Book of Revelation.

In monasteries in Patmos we saw icons graphically depicting the persecutions: people having limbs amputated, beheaded, dragged behind wild horses, mashed to death like grapes in huge presses. Embarrassed by my good and busy life, I thought this is my heritage and yours: martyrs, people who suffered horribly, willingly for their faith in Jesus as Lord. Christians who died terrible deaths, rather than renounce their God. How puny are our efforts.

On our last night in Athens we had dinner at a restaurant called Dionysius. It provided a marvelous view of the ruins of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The ruins were magnificent - bathed in floodlight, they dominated the skyline of the city. I sat gazing at the wonder of it all and considering the extraordinary and powerful civilization that produced and lay behind: I considered that St. Paul, that audacious servant of Jesus, went up against all that: "People of Athens - as I went through your city, I looked at the objects of your worship. I saw among them an altar to an unknown God." "What you worship as unknown, I proclaim to you." "When they heard of the resurrection some scoffed but some became believers including Dionysius and a woman named Damarius." (Acts 17:22ff) Today Christian churches are everywhere. More than 90 percent of the people of Greece identify themselves as followers of Jesus. I am converted anew to Jesus' call to us to evangelize in his name, no matter how improbable the circumstance. Jesus' spirit resides with his church, and that Spirit is able to transform people and nations. Remember, said Jesus: "I am with you always ..."

At St. George's College in Jerusalem, we joined with 20 or so others in a course on "Worship and the Bible. " Western, Eastern mostly lay people - they came from Australia, Canada, England and the United States. We followed in the way of life and ministry of Jesus: Nazareth where he lived and grew up; sailed across the sea of Galilee; walked up the Mount of Beatitudes and listened to the sermon on the Mount with new ears; celebrated the Eucharist at the lakeside - fed by Jesus; went up the Mount of Transfiguration. On Maundy Thursday, the Bishop of Jerusalem washed my feet after sharing in the Lord's Supper. We went with the whole Cathedral congregation to the Garden of Gethsemane. We stood in the cold, dark night and prayed and remembered the anguish of Jesus: "Father, let this cup pass from me." Nevertheless the night he was betrayed and arrested.

At 6:00 Friday morning, we walked the Via Dolorosa - carrying a huge cross. The enormous crowds swelled at each station. Christians from all over the world, singing and praying, walking the way of the cross. At the fifth station Bishop Kaffity who led the procession boomed out: "And now an African American Bishop from Ohio and a white Bishop from the Church in Canada will carry the Cross as Simon of Cyrene carried the cross for our Lord. It was an unexpected privilege. We ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built over the site of the Crucifixion and the empty tomb. I reached down and touched that stony, cold rock pile where Jesus died. On Easter morning at 5, we hurried from the College to the empty tomb. (I peered in and saw it was not empty, it was full of Christians from all over the world squeezed in, praying.)

At the 11 a.m. Eucharist of the Resurrection at St. George's Cathedral, I could not stop the tears. I wept through the entire service: out of wonder, love, joy, deep gratitude for the death and resurrection of our Savior. God did all that for you and for me, for a world that had turned against Him in rebellion. I knew that, but now I know it at a place deep within me.

I was converted anew! I believe more sincerely, love more deeply and I want more than ever to tell all whom I can about God - His wondrous love in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I experienced conversion at another level, as Russelle and I "sabbaticaled" (new verb) together. We saw extraordinary sights, and experienced so may wonderful things. From the gracious and beautiful brother and sister Christians who traveled various parts of the way with us, to those whom we met along the way in Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. The Arab Christians in Israel. The beautiful children in Turkey (who thought I was Bill Cosby), the beauty of God's creation from the snow-capped mountains in Greece to the desert of Egypt; wonderful adventures like the camel ride in Egypt (pursued by camel riding Police), to dinner at a restaurant on the Nile with Bishop and Mrs. Malik; walking together in the places where Jesus walked.

At the end of each day, we would return to our lodging, read Scriptures together and conclude a busy day with Compline. I was converted to deeper love for my wife and partner with whom I've been privileged to serve for more than 28 years.

When we returned home, Russ gave me a card -- a greeting card. It showed on the cover two ducks, looking at one another. One said "I am smitten by you." Inside the card read: "Smit Happens! Love you, Russ."

Indeed it does! More significantly, Grace Happens!
Thanks be to God for His Amazing Grace!