Rekindle the Fire

Rekindle the Fire

THE PROBLEM: BURNOUT

In my younger years I recall the older generation often saying, "Just keep on living." That often followed a discussion or revelation of the representative of the older generation sharing dismay over a certain pain, or reflection over a missed opportunity and then still over their bodies and/or minds being over taxed with years of stress and drudgery. "You just keep on living", they would say. "If you live long enough you are going to see and experience these same aches and pains".

Burnout is what the older generation was describing. Burnout is defined as long-term fatigue, frustration or exhaustion from prolonged stress and extended activity.

I set in my mind in those times that would never be my cry. Years later after thirty-eight years of working in corporate America; dealing with my immediate family issues and responsibilities; allowing my tender-heart to be drawn into not only extended family, but friend's troubles; and finally coupling those with ministry, I've often experienced that same feeling of being over-whelmed or burnt-out. I have also seen this same heavy spirit capture and almost overwhelm some of my ministry friends.

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to deliver a message to the congregation I support in ministry. The Spirit of the Lord stirred my spirit to minister on, "Rekindle the Fire". This was a very specific message to that congregation and pastors as

I sensed they were experiencing a time of burnout. These pastors spent twenty plus years in prison ministry, and now three years of pushing and running hard for Jesus subsequent to starting a new church only to see the numbers began to flatten, if not decline. In essence they were experiencing burnout.

The lack of laborers, the cost of a new sanctuary, and the ongoing ministry produced a level of stress that is associated with burnout. Consequently the pastors had become weary in well doing. I saw it. They were experiencing it and the Holy Spirit wanted to address it.

Galatians 6:9 states, And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Do not give up). (Sew to the spirit; not to the flesh). In addition, 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (King James) states, But ye brethren, be not weary in well doing. There is no question that the pressures and weight of life can pull heavily on the strongest of individuals. When we attempt to deal with that weight in the natural course of the day in our own human strengths and knowledge the weight grows immensely to the point of breaking one's health and mental stability, not to mention his spiritual life.

EXCESS BAGGAGE

Zebria Coffey in her book, "Excess Baggage" describes the piece of Pullman luggage as the largest of the pieces of luggage in a set. A part of its illusion is all of its pockets and compartments. It gives the appearance that the more you attempt to put in it, the more it is capable of carrying. Further, it has the added convenience of once it is loaded it can be tilted back on its wheels, lifting the handle and being rolled to its destination.

The traveler often is lulled into thinking: 1) I really might need all of these items and 2) because all these pockets and space are available I can carry them comfortably. Taking this very natural physical and visual approach can easily lead to false assumptions that likely will have to be accounted for later in the travel plans before reaching the traveler's destination.

The responsibilities of one's position whether employment, parents, students, or pastor can be and is often times more than enough for a single individual to handle. When these responsibilities are coupled or added to pressures of family, responsibility for others or life in general it is not unusual to find oneself carrying excess baggage.

What the traveler does not anticipate is that once he attempts to load the Pullman into his automobile the manpower and energy it requires to make the lift can cause physical injury that will likely also frustrate the traveler and complicate his travel plans. The traveler arrives at the airport and now is faced with additional luggage charges because his Pullman is overweight.

Is it possible at this stage of the trip to unload some of the excess baggage into one of your smaller bags or off load some of the weight onto another family or team member? I am guessing they have a Pullman as well and it too is overweight. How about shifting some of the weight to your backpack which is a carry on? That doesn't sound very plausible.

Coffey proceeds to describe a period in her life through a series of events she spent an extended period of time traveling between Memphis, Tennessee and Charlotte, North Carolina (her home town). During this period her husband became ill and passed away. In addition, her parents, who were divorced, each became ill and passed away as well.

Her Pullman was packed to capacity and in fact was "over-weight". Mrs. Coffey includes discussion on the challenge of taking on too many activities without considering the time and energy it will take to complete them. We have all been guilty at one time or another of saying yes to too many projects or activities, only to realize we have overloaded our Pullman or added excess baggage at the end.

Mrs. Coffey's book also offers, "God first helps us to determine how best to handle tasks and priorities as they are presented to us." Greater consideration here would help avoid excess baggage. (Coffey, 2011).

KEYS TO NOT FAINTING

Keys to ministers in Galatians 6:9 are:

1) Not to be weary in well doing (do not give up)

2) Faint not

3) Sow to the spirit; not to the flesh

4) For in due season we shall reap.

The ultimate objective of course is to attain the point of reaping from that which has been sown. The obvious challenge is not growing weary in the process and approaching ministry (God's call) by sowing to the spirit and not feeding the flesh.

When I'm faced with a number of questions in ministry I tend to go back to one of the very first books that I received in my early ministry training. This resource I believe offers great insight into directing the minister on sowing to the spirit. "What the Bible Says to the Minister" offers guidance you must be inwardly