The Real Cost Of "Too Much"

Growing up on 2.5 acres, we had tons of room to play. Riding bikes. Playing football. Practicing our short game, with a couple of golf irons. Of course there was tons of room for work too!  Mom had a huge garden in the backyard that always needed looked after. It was fun... except for the ancient drain "system" that came down the hill next to us and flooded the backyard when we had a hard rain.

My brother used to mow the yard with a push mower!! Are you crazy? We have the riding mower? Yeah, but this way I get the exercise. Little did I know, after he moved out, I picked up the practice... 4-4.5 hrs with a push mower. Before that though, I remember using the rider. And I wanted to go fast! So, 3rd gear, here we go.

Needless to say, Dad came out scratching his head. Why does the grass not look cut? Were you just riding around? Nope...mowed in 3rd gear. That's not mowing son, that's joy-riding!  (okay, that last line wasn't his actual response... let's just say he wasn't thrilled about my attempt at efficiency... which was barely an attempt, since it really didn't cut much!)

Which is something that's been on my mind a great deal of late.

You can only go so fast until there's damage.
You can only process so much until something gets missed.
You can only handle so many responsibilities until it becomes apparent that one or more isn't doing so well.

All this to say, I remember how much my parents used to do when I was a kid. Full-time jobs. Helping out at our school. Coaching. At church the list got really long. The boys club, Sunday School, youth group, sound board, women's ministries president, board member, organist for worship team, usher... trying to think if I missed anything. Plus, dad didn't have just a regular full-time gig. He dedicated a good portion of his years to public service; putting his life on the front lines of the community every day.

If life is a balancing act, then life for those in ministry is more akin to a high-wire act. With all the same elements to keep in proper perspective and balance. It gets dicey. Fast. It's not a matter of church people being better or more important because of all that's going on. Life is a balance for everyone who has ever tried to figure out one situation while engaged in another task of some kind. What does make the difference for the church, is the impact that will be made for eternity. That is the drive. The focus. The motivation. When those duties fall out of balance and don't get replenished and receive proper care... burnout. For some it's public. For others very private. And heart-breaking in both instances.

It's for this we pray... which before we do, having friends at my church now who serve the public on the front lines, to these two guys and to my dad, as well as his dad who served the same profession... THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!

And on this #deaconThursday, thanks for your service, church leaders, deacons, admin and staff; those who come along to support and implement the vision God has placed on the hearts of your pastors for the impact you making on your communities, in your counties, across the state and throughout the nations. Pray for a strengthening and quickening... mentally, physically, relation-ally, spiritually... may the be girded up by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray a protection of their lives, their homes and families; as the struggle to find balance in the various roles they play is hard. Pray for wisdom in the decisions they face, discernment for the priorities they place; passion for the things they've said YES to; freedom for the times they have to say NO. In all things, pray they continue to place and seek first the Kingdom of God; remember that while they need to be diligent in their responsibilities, ultimately, the cares of the world will fade and only which is done for eternity will remain.

For the glory of God. For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

---