Redemptive Time Wasting

An excellent reflection on redemptive time wasting by Kelvin, Bishop of Dunedin (where I was still Presbyterian (but drifting), Jude and I met and Kate was born):

I'm aware of the compelling dictates of the stuff that MUST be done, but also increasingly aware of the need to be the sort of pastor described by Eugene H Peterson in his wonderful quaternity of books on pastoral ministry (The Contemplative Pastor, Working the Angles, Under the Unpredictable Plant, Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work) : that is, unbusy, subversive and apocalyptic. 

I read another gem from St Eugene in Leadership magazine (a 1998 issue, I think):

A student was telling me he saw a video on Michael Jordan. He said, “Michael Jordan looks so lazy. He looks like he’s not doing anything. Then suddenly, he’s through three people, and he’s slam-dunking the ball.” 

As a pastor, how do you slip through the opposition and make your point? You do it by being lazy—or what looks like being lazy—sitting in your study for half a day reading a book that doesn’t have anything to do with your sermon. 

My first spiritual director, the formidable Sister Una Conran of Calgary's FCJ Centre, called it "mooching." I was to forget my lists and "mooch" in the LORD's presence.

Bishop Kelvin's thoughts also remind me of something I read in Juan Carlos Ortiz's book, Disciple (Creation House: 1975) years ago. Ortiz had built a church from 185 to 600, and was feeling pretty good about himself, when he felt the LORD telling him what he had built was a “business” rather than a church. “You are not growing, you think you are because you’ve gone from 200 to 600. But you’re not growing—you’re just getting fat.” (p85)

The LORD in His mercy impressed a ministry maxim on me not long after I was ordained. Unless the LORD builds the house, I strive and labour, go to bed late and get up early, in vain (Ps 127). If my ministry models workaholism to my people who are already living at a frantic pace, I do not shepherd well.

Thank you, Bishop Kelvin. All here: Available Light: Wasting Time

On Sixty-Two-ness

'Nuff said.

Time Management and Avoiding Pastor Burnout

One of the problems I face as a pastor and priest is that my work is never done. I'm like a mother. Whenever I stop for the day, there is always more that could be done. There is always someone else who could do with a visit or a call; always a need. For me, to stop for the day, or to observe a Sabbath, is to say no to a bunch of needs.

The LORD helped me with this when I was first ordained by arranging that I be in my forties and more able, therefore, to withstand some of the pressures that might have swept my 25 year old self into full blown workaholism and burn out.

He also helped me by bringing my attention to Psalm 127 early in my ministry.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.

I realized that my parish was His to build. I am to work hard and do an honest day's work, but in the end, He must do the building. If my church was to grow because of 60+ hour weeks on my part that would be a false growing.