Episode 43: The Plan Includes Pause
An interview with Denise Lee Yohn
Denise shares her in-process story of pausing from work, dethroning idols, and offers encouragement & hope for our weary souls.
The Seeds
Name: Denise Lee Yohn
Where do you call home: San Francisco, CA
Relationship Status: Married
Season of Work: Business Keynote Speaker on Brand Leadership and Founder/Director, Faith & Work Journey
Hobbies: Fitness, Working out, Travel, Reading
Jesus Journey: Born in a Christian home but faith was not personal. Rejected church in college. Invited to a seeker church by co-worker at my first post-college job and I found God there!
The Branches
Denise, you lead Faith + Work Journey, a non-profit that equips and empowers Christ-following professionals to steward their vocations faithfully. Back in December 2022 at your Holiday Party, you announced you would be taking a few months’ sabbatical. What led you to take a sabbatical?
Earlier in the year, I had taken a vacation in which I had a lot of time to relax and think. I also read this short but profound book for ministry leaders, “Take Care of Yourself,” which made me realize I had become disconnected from the mission of our organization and I was more focused on doing stuff than on fulfilling our purpose. When I discussed this with my executive coach (the amazing Ruthie Kim), we determined I should take a sabbatical.
I know taking a sabbatical wasn’t an easy decision for you. Share with Olive Us some of the reasons.
Admitting that I needed to take a break was hard – I am achievement-oriented, I relish hard work, and I don’t like to admit that I need help. Also, what transpired with my Board after they agreed to grant me the sabbatical was not good. It really challenged my decision.
Did you have a structure (i.e. plan) for what your sabbatical would look like? Did you have accountability partners for this time away from work?
I had some goals and ideas of what to do, which I accomplished. But I made some bad decisions about the sabbatical which resulted in it not being as restful as I wanted or should have been.
What did God bring to the surface during and after your sabbatical?
Two big things:
Themes for how I wanted to live going forward –being open, going slow, and resting in Christ.
Clarity about changes that were needed at Faith & Work Journey.
A stop from “producing”...from working…this is countercultural in our society. How have you as a leader changed on the other side of Sabbatical? Have you implemented curriculum at F&WJ to reframe rest and the call as Christ followers to Sabbath?
The headline is that we need to unplug not only from doing stuff (the traditional notion of Sabbath and rest) but also from the beliefs that drive us to make work an idol. I try to do what I teach in F&WJ:
Soak in the gospel – esp. Preach it to myself regularly
Rethink rest – not as a reward for or break from work but as a critical part of work
Practice resting regularly – daily, weekly, monthly, semi-/annually
Here at Olive Us we have a wide range of ethnicities, vocations, and ages. Encourage the sister who thinks taking a sabbatical is impossible.
I think it’s less about taking a break and more about living in a way that allows relief from our idols (which is much more sustainable/attainable).
Olive Us was created for women to share their in-process stories and be reminded they’re connected through Christ and not alone. Why is this important?
Knowing we’re not alone can be very assuring and comforting in and of itself. We need each other – this is hard for someone like me to accept.
The Olive Tree
Finish these statements:
God is…my Heavenly Father.
True rest is…unplugging from our idols.
Leaders pausing from their work is…necessary.
‘Olive Us’ are better when…we are open with each other.