Today I'm preparing for an interview with The Bridge radio network. I wrote a little blurb for their newsletter too. It's all about Easter, ministry, and a book by Wayne Cordeiro I'll be featuring this month titled: "Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion." Easter is the big month for pastors and the tough month for pastors. Flames fanned higher nearly always lead to burnout or symptoms of burnout.
Later today, Shannon and I go to a hospital in or near NYC to visit a young friend and ministry partner who has succumbed to cancer. Apparently, she'll be gone soon. We heard she's already in a coma. Her husband, family, and other friends will be there. Her daughter is a year older than mine. We went to Africa together twice, in 2004 and in 2007. Dear friends.
For all the emotions I'm feeling concerning all of this, I realize that everything I'm going through or talking about today is ... ordinary. This is ordinary human life and ordinary ministry. So-called ordinary life involves death, so-called ordinary ministry involves burnout, and redemption can only be redemption through Jesus' death on the cross.
I guess that last one's not so ordinary ...
Hey Pastor John. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I will definitely be praying for the whole situation.
ReplyDeleteAh, the Easter rush! Haha, I understand completely, and watch it happen first-hand. I think sometimes the reason pastors burn out is because an "ordinary ministry" can be so exhausting - to work and pray so hard, and wonder if anything is actually happening. However, the great thing is that even though the ministry might seem ordinary, our God and His work is anything but ordinary. For example, your sermon last week was life-changing for me. God used you to speak right into my soul.
I will pray for you and your family as we go into Holy Week and the Easter rush!