How do you make time for self-care?
Ministry work ethic is probably one of the worst, either to one extreme or the other. You have those who think we pastors do nothing except on Sundays and Wednesdays, while the other extreme expects you to tend to all things church and never go home. Both are unhealthy. I worked in a church situation many years ago where I ran myself ragged during a busy season with no rest. It literally took months to recover from that. Despite all the effort, I was called lazy and all kinds of other things. Thankfully since then, I have been in healthier situations that allow me to care for myself in a way that will serve them better. Healthy churches must have healthy pastors.
So what does this “come apart” business have to do with self-care? Everything! If you read the gospels, you will see Jesus getting away from the crowd frequently to get alone with the Father. If He did, then I must. I’m an introvert, and social situations don’t energize me. I must recharge. If I don’t, those in my life suffer. Some people in my life still don’t understand the way I’m wired, but that’s okay.
You and I must come apart from the stress of life, or we will come apart. I crashed to a point in 2012 where I questioned if I would have to pull away from ministry altogether. God was gracious enough to place me in smaller churches after that point. The demands are fewer in some ways. I don’t have to live with the expectations of always outdoing myself to keep people coming and entertained. Church is much simpler these days, and that’s okay. I’m not burning at both ends and can actually enjoy the journey.
Self-care must be a priority. If you don’t prioritize it, a health crisis of some sort will force you to do so. Don’t wait until that moment! Come apart before you come apart!
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