Preemptive Miracle Requested
This is my schedule for the next 4 or 5 months, as far as I know. I thought it was cool to be able to post it in Greek. Now, between this and Google Latitude, no one will ever have to ask the questions of where I am or what I’m doing.
It’s a little surprising to me that I don’t have many qualms about posting my schedule on the internets. Last night, a good friend said to me (regarding blogging) that people would “appreciate transparency” from a pastor-to-be. More than that, though, I would really appreciate the transparency for myself. Last night I ended my post with “praying for integrity”, and it’s an honest prayer. I have a great admiration for those people whose lives match up with who they say they are.
Sitting down last night and putting in all my ministry, students, and classes down on “paper” was kind of surprising to me, mostly because stepping back and looking at it all was pretty overwhelming. When you start filling in your schedule, things just kind of happen and it isn’t until you really organize everything that the busy-ness of it all hits you. Not to mention that I haven’t scheduled in sermon prep, ministry prep, Sunday services, and major assignments that I need to complete. Why is that? Is it because those things are higher or lower priorities? More likely the latter, and I’m just asking the question to rationalize it.
At any rate, with two churches, two youth groups, four classes (three of them that will be difficult), five piano students and five tutees, I can see the big blinking lights at the end of that tunnel, and it’s pretty clear that they say “BURNOUT”. Straight down a pathway littered with the bitterness of youth ministers and leaders struck down in the prime of their life.
Well, I have a sneaking suspicion that the sheep that belong to these other shepherds crashed out on the side of the road were some pretty wayward and unbalanced sheep. Not like mine. Mine rock. One of the biggest things that my youth taught me last week is about dependence on God. “Cast your cares on Jesus, and he’ll always take care of you.” I have and I willl, so I’m not really worried too much about burnout.
But it is going to take a miraculous movement of God to avoid, for sure. If I try to do it on my own, I’m pretty sure I’ll just end up with the rest of them. You might think it weird that on the one hand I’m acknowledging that I need a miracle, and at the other hand I’m acknowledging that I’m not too worried about it. That’s because another thing that I re-learned at the retreat is that God is constantly broadening my faith. Elijah, Paul, and Moses all fully expected God to work in a crazy way, and so do I. After all:
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. (Ps 37:23-24 NLT)
Expect big things from a big God.
If you look at my schedule, I’ve got my entire Tuesday open, right before I start school. I plan on doing a one-day retreat to just seek the Lord and lay my cares on Him up at Eaton Canyon in Pasadena to prepare for the upcoming semester and year. If anyone would like to join me, just holla back. Facebook, call, text, whatever. You know how and where to find me.
-Ern [Taylor Swift stuck in my head…]
