I’m in the Manchester, England, airport, returning to New Jersey after five weeks in UK. Becky asked today if I will be able to remember what side of the road to drive on when we return. I think the switch will come naturally, but after driving for several weeks over here, the left side seems “right.”

I came over here on sabbatical on the hunch that the church in UK is in trouble to a greater degree than in the States, and that the secularizing trend that has diminished its effectiveness is also in motion in the USA. I figured that whatever the church is learning in order to counter the cultural challenges will be of use to American churches as we face changing times.

But there was something more I wanted to experience while here. Rather than talk only with pastors of conventional churches about how they are dealing with decline, I wanted to encounter the truly radical, experimental forms of ministry that are born out of desperation. These are unconventional churches, to say the least, yet they are formed out of a fresh examination of the scriptures. So much of what Western Christians have come to think of as essential for a church may in fact be nothing more than cultural baggage that hinders our mission.

So, I decided to “drive on the wrong side of the road,” living in opposite scenarios in order to figure this all out. It has been a fascinating journey, very much worth while, stretching me in wonderful ways. I have loved being here and I leave with reluctance. When I return home and continue my reading I will have an updated data bank of experiences and conversations that will provide meaningful context for what I read.

Will I be content to go back to the right side of the road? Probably not. Sabbaticals can be life-changing spiritual journeys, and I think this is no exception. I still have several weeks left, with one more chapter of travel, course work, and visiting churches, and so it is too early to draw any conclusions, but already I can say how grateful to God I am for this extraordinary chapter in my life’s journey.

I got way behind in posting reflections in this web log while in UK, partly because finding internet access was a challenge and also because my days were so full I had little time for writing up my thoughts. In the coming days I will be adding further postings about conversations and experiences relating to my weeks here, even though they will be a bit out of sync.