Last week sent me into a tailspin. I literally had to force myself to take a break. I am a worker. I love to be busy. I love to be doing things. Writing. Preaching. Counseling. Golfing. Having Fun. Whatever etc. I do not like idleness unless you count watching golf on TV on a Sunday after church as idle.
Last week I went to school on Tuesday night after work and then went to church from Wednesday through Sunday. I was consumed with busyness. While some moments were great. Others were awful. Like being too tired to spend time with family or not being able to take my kids to the park or pretend play as if we were in a park for that matter.
Looking back, there are definitely some things that I could have and should have foregone.
You might be asking what keeps me so busy?
- I am a husband and father
- I am a pastor
- I have a full-time job (yes, aside from working at the church)
- I am a full-time college student
- I am a blogger
Last week I became so consumed with the ministry aspect of my life that it literally consumed all of my time and energy. Don’t get me wrong, I love ministry and one day hope to be able to do it full-time. However, in the meantime I have to force myself only to select events and activities.
So…What did I learn exactly?
- I am not a superhero (shocker! right? lol)
- I shut down mentally and emotionally when doing too much. (I was not fun dad last week)
- I put off doing school work
- I abandoned the blog completely
When I have too much on my plate I abandon things that are of equal or greater importance. For example, in order for me to be effective I have to be sure that mentally and emotionally I am balanced. I am a semester away from graduating with my Bachellor’s of Science in Management and Ethics, if I mess up, that can easily push me back another semester. Also, if I do not write then my chances of being published are zero.
This past week has been an eye-opener. I really need to re-read Anne Jackson’s book Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic.
Do not let yourself fall into this type of pattern as it can be destructive. Take things one step at a time and I am sure that you will be happier and healthier. Jesus knew when to work and when to rest. Let’s not try to out do him.
Jesus died for the church so that we would not have to.
Question:
Are you doing too much? How do you balance your life?
Jonathan is the author and founder of ConsiderUp.com. He is a husband, a father, and a pastor. He loves Jesus, his family, writing, and playing golf.
Jonathan is proud to serve alongside his wife Sileni as associate pastors at Bethesda Church in Clermont, Florida. For over 13 years he has been heavily involved in ministry and church leadership preaching a message of grace and restoration.
