Advice For A Pastor (Part 4)

Admit it: sometimes you over-dramatize things.  You think something is a big deal, but it turns out not to be.  Like stressing about your annual budget meeting where that member causing you problems always gripes about something, or wondering how you’ll admit a recent mistake to a family member. Don’t worry; we all do this sometimes.

But the next time you find yourself getting worked up about something, ask yourself if you’re over-dramatizing the situation.  If you’re not sure, find a close friend (or someone you trust) who will tell you the truth, and ask them.

Try approaching these events without expectations or preconceived ideas about how they might play out.  Practice fostering a sense of calm curiosity.  Face the truth with an open mind.

Worry and concern might sound like the same thing, but they’re not.  A worried person invests a lot of time fretting about something that might happen, but they don’t plan, or do, anything.  A concerned person, on the other hand, thinks about the options and the possibilities and builds a logical plan for taking the next step forward, and then takes it.

When you’re concerned, you’re uneasy about what might happen, but your plan empowers you.  You don’t waste time and energy worrying because you’re focused on taking the next best step.  You’re comforted that you have thought through all the options, and you have a strategy to move forward.

A lot of life’s complications come from future possibilities or things that might happen.  Sometimes it’s things that might be unpleasant, or overwhelming.  Sometimes we’re afraid of failure, or success.
Life is simpler if you focus on the here and now.  It’s fine to plan for the future, but don’t stress about it.  If you find yourself wondering how you’ll cope with tomorrow, or next week, remind yourself that you’re here now.  You can do what needs doing today, and nothing more.  Have faith that you’ll be ready for tomorrow, or the next day, when it arrives.

Pay yourself first in time.  Get out your planner and schedule all the important, personal things you want to attend or achieve.  They’re key to keeping you happy and productive, and they deserve to go into your planner first.

Put the good stuff in before all the obvious obligations.  Plan out your quarterly breaks, family fun time, and long weekends away so you have something to look forward to.  This will ensure these activities don’t get pushed to the bottom of your priority list where they’re overlooked.  Life feels lighter when you can anticipate enjoyable events, by keeping them visible.

Life is simply a collection of little, priceless moments, each lived one day at a time.  Each day should be spent finding beauty in sunrises, rainstorms, poetry and talking to each other.  That a day spent with dreaming and laughing and refreshing breezes cannot be bettered.  But most of all, learn that life is about sitting on benches with pleasant views and good company, and sometimes, on great days, for falling in love. God wants the best for you no matter how large or small your church is. Just remember that.

This is your life.  Your one and only shot at creating the life you want to lead.  If you’re not happy with how things are, it’s up to you to change it.

And here’s the secret that most people refuse to tell you: You have the power.  You may have unwittingly gotten yourself into a complex, weighed down situation, but you have the power to change it.  You can create a life that is as simple and light as you imagine.  The only thing standing in your way is you. You are called, chosen, and anointed, but you can burn out faster than you realize regardless of the size of your church. I wish someone would have given me this advice 40 years ago when I started. It's not based on trends or what the other guy is doing; it's just about being yourself, taking car of your self, and listening to the Lord.