Finding Balance

As we head full throttle toward Holy Week and Easter, I am trying hard to remain focused on the tasks at hand, while at the same time, seeking to find ways to connect with God on a deeper level through the Gospel stories. Each day I have a very long to-do list to accomplish in order to prepare our Lenten Sunday Worship as well as our Holy Week programs and Easter services while, at the same time, struggling with how to do the Gospel work of social justice. And, everyday I am balancing that work with reading the daily reflections and prayers from The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer and some days I also spend a few minutes in the Moravian Daily Texts. If you have never utilized either of these for daily reflection, I highly recommend them both.

Balance in my life, has been something with which I have long struggled. The first year I was here in Key West, I was so out of balance that I ended up leaving the pulpit the Sunday after Easter to be taken by ambulance to the emergency room. You may remember that unsettling day.... Ever since then, I have tried to be more conscious of my health and achieving balance in my life. It's not always easy, but Jesus told us we would have troubles in this world, and that's why we could count on Him, because He had overcome the world (John 16:33).

I recently read a Facebook post by The Clergy Coaching Network that said, in part,

"A lot of pastors feel like they are trying to shepherd a congregation through three storms at the same time — deep political division, the slow decline of the church as we’ve known it, and the everyday griefs and crises that have always been part of ministry. Any one of those is hard. All three at once can drain the life right out of you if you’re not careful. Resilience, at least for clergy, isn’t about being tougher. It isn’t about pretending things don’t hurt. It’s about learning how to care for your soul while you keep doing work that asks a lot from you."

The posting went on to say that there are some strategies we can utilize to avoid burnout and find balance in our lives. These strategies are:

• Keeping a Daily Time with God- Scripture reading or devotions
• Taking a Real Sabbath (not a pretend one) - I hope you all understand this when I don't answer your texts on Fridays.
• Don't Try to Do This Alone - This is why I have my covenant group (AKA - Pastor Posse).
• Learn That You Don't Have to Carry Everything - Even Jesus went off to pray when the crowds were clamoring at Him.
• Remember That You Are Not The Savior - I can't fix everything, my friends, and I will make mistakes!
• Remember Your Call - What was it God called me to do in the first place?
• Have A Life That Isn't the Church - Hobbies, time with Family, social engagements...
• Remember the Small Wins - Ministry is filled with quiet moments that matter.

The post went on to offer this in conclusion:

"If you feel tired, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It may mean you’re carrying a lot in a hard season. The goal isn’t to become invincible. The goal is to stay rooted… and human… and hopeful. These are stormy times. The storms may not stop. But, resilience means your soul learns how to stay anchored… even while the wind is still blowing."

I feel like these words apply to all of us, not just clergy. It is my hope that we will all find balance in this Lenten and Easter season - even in a world that often seems to be spiraling out of control!

Because God is always in control!

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)

Grace and Peace

-Pastor Madeline