On The Edge

If you'll permit me to do an extension of yesterday's Rise & Fall post... that anyone within an organization is exposed to the possibility and opportunity for exhaustion and burnout. That's the nature of continuous effort and work that is not brought into balance with rest and reprieve.

An interesting observation about rising and falling; they both of their edges. We often don't think of the edges involved in the rise nearly as much, for we are focused on the pursuit that's in front of us. We understand the risks and the dangers along the way, but it's the reward that lays ahead that usually helps (at least a little bit) in terms of balance, because we know their is a process involved in the pursuit.

Fall-outs usually have very little control. The outcome of where you could land is relatively unknown, except for the worst case scenario of "rock bottom".

We talked briefly about the importance of wise and discerning friends in this process; for so often in times of burnout, one may not recognize their exact location relative to the edge. They may have a sense they are getting close; occasionally there may be a clue dropped along the way that causes wonder to wonder if a person is in trouble. But it takes a special kind of friend to speak up and speak the truth with love.

Do you realize where you are?

Edges are danger places to begin with; finding yourself in close proximity while also being distracted, frustrated or in a seemingly sense of fog just makes the potential for disaster that much more of a reality. Being brought to this awareness should also prompt change and first and foremost, a desperate desire for God to work the miraculous... perhaps beyond what you thought you may have known was already needed.

So on that note, can we pray this #associatePastorTuesday for the miraculous? Pray for pastors in need of a friend that will speak truth and life to the dark places; for those living closer to the edge than they realize... may God intervene and bring them back from the brinks of unknown disasters. Pray God would raise up friends and people within the church that would not only have a wise and discerning spirit, but that would have the boldness to speak into the lives of leadership, not from a sideline perspective, but from a place of love and relationship. May God bring clarity to places of frustration and fog; and that even in times of great distress and difficulty, that such times would be one more element of the testimony of the grace and glory of God.

As He continues to use ALL things together for good.
For those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
As even the struggles and trials of life
Are not beyond His reach;
Nor are they beyond His ability to work the miraculous.
For the advancement of the cause of Christ.

- PNC

---