Of White Space & Margins

I'm yearning for ever-increasing white space, margins, and serenity. 

Online.

Over time, I've become an avid blogger and reader of such.  Maybe that's why I'm drawn to the ones that are designed sparse.  Compelling open spaces that do nothing but invite me to come rest awhile.  That give full permission for meaningful words to jump off the page, tugging at my heartstrings or challenging my mind.  And wide open visual margins that invite beautiful photographs to effortlessly spring to life.

Without all the bells and whistles, flashing ads, and endless buttons and links and stuff on every square inch, I'm drawn to the true message that shines through unhindered.  Nothing distracts me from catching a glimpse of her heart, her vision, her story, her humor, her insights, her truths.  I move on from our little visit refreshed and renewed ... online time well spent.

The whole margins concept is nothing new ... I've been dipping into physician Richard Swenson's volumes for years.  Because this is how I want to live, embracing meaningful pockets of solitude and rest, sanity and peace.  I know that this is how I will stay healthy and whole in every way that matters.  To grow in Christ-centered faith ... and deep awareness and appreciation of who this girl is in this season.  And to have my soul's deep well refilled to overflowing.  Often.  With plenty of nurturing sustenance left over to share.

Swenson writes, 'To learn the grace of stillness in the midst of busyness is much-needed oxygen for exhausted people everywhere.  Instead of being cheered on by the socially acceptable mantra 'more and more, faster and faster,' perhaps we can rediscover the sacred pace of Jesus. 

Overload and hurry are not prerequisites for service but enemies of faith.  Can we raise new signs such as 'Stop believing that chronic exhaustion is normal, that a listless spirit is inevitable, that burnout is piety'?'

P.S.   You're probably noticing a bit of re-creation, an enlargement of white space, margins, and photo size right here and now ... a long-considered update that I hope you love as much as I do!



6 Burnout Lessons for Ministry Leaders

After talking to countless ministry leaders who are about to fizzle out ... and experiencing burnout myself half a decade or so ago, I am passionate about health in the ranks of church leadership.  So I really savored consulting psychologist Steve Bagi's perspective on this always pressing issue.

Based on his own burnout experience and recently posted at the ministry blog Serving Strong, here are the six lessons that turned his life upside down. 

I'm thinking there's probably a take-home or two for any who are in non-stop, full-throttle mode as they serve Christ and others.

Steve writes:

Lesson One: Burnout was worse than I expected. I call it a “stew of pain” with ...so many different emotions and thoughts swirling around and bubbling to the surface over a very long period of time.

Lesson Two: Burnout took longer to recover from than I had thought. I was out of action for one whole year. That is a long time to be watching day time TV and wearing pjs all day. However, considering that it took me over twenty years to get there, it was never going to be a quick and easy way out.

Lesson Three: Burnout cost a lot more than I had bargained for. The amount of emotional pressure that I placed on my wife and children was considerable. No wonder my sweet wife also went through something similar after I had started to work again. Then, there is the dollar value of being out of action for so long and perhaps working through the possibility of having to change occupations.

Lesson Four: Many churches and church leadership groups do not know what to do with a pastor who is burning out and churches are reluctant to talk about this growing problem and take on their share of the responsibility.

Lesson Five: Burnout doesn’t have to be the end of the road. Although many times I felt that I would never get back up, God, my family, friends, counselling and medication has really helped me to work through it. Although I am no longer in pastoral ministry, I am even more passionate about serving Jesus and sharing the gospel. I have found it easier to talk to people who aren’t Christians, as being someone who has “crashed” makes me more human and vulnerable.

Lesson Six: The growing world-wide problem of pastoral burnout is a symptom of an unhealthy way of “doing church” with regards to the attractional model under which most churches are structured and the role and expectations placed on the “PASTOR and their family”.

What choices do you have to make TODAY to keep from becoming a statistic?

Linda

*** Be pro-active!  More on preventing and treating burnout here ...

- sign photo by Kris Van de Sande -

7 Steps to Conquer Compassion Fatigue

Christian Fatigue Syndrome.  Ministry Burnout.  Exhaustion at every level of our beings.  From being deeply present.  Serving non-stop.  Giving endlessly.  Pouring out ... til there's nothing left except the dregs at the bottom of the well. 

Result? 

A sense of numbness slowly creeps into body, mind, and soul.  Joy, passion, zeal, and purpose fade to a distant memory.

In the Volume 18, No. 1 issue of Christian Counseling Today Magazine, counselor and consultant Eric Scalise observes, "Caregivers and ministry leaders are not only susceptible to increased levels of stress ... when combined with a call to love and serve others, the result is what is commonly referred to as compassion fatigue. 

Compassion fatigue can be understood as a comprehensive exhaustion that takes place over time when one is constantly in the 'giving' position and, as a result, loses his/her ability and motivation to experience joy, satisfaction, or feel and care for others. 

It is sometimes referred to as secondary or vicarious traumatic stress associated with the emotional residue related to the cause of caring.  The traumatic event or crisis did not happen to you directly, but you were close enough to those it did impact that its detrimental effects can still have a causal outcome."

Pastor.  Ministry Leader.  People Helper.  Counselor.

If you're emotionally/physically/mentally/spiritually depleted, you KNOW you've got to get out of that terrifying place.  These guidelines may be helpful as you begin to make choices that will re-fill your well:

- CLARIFY YOUR CALL
Enthusiastic, energetic service can sometimes morph into a 24/7 deal where we mistakenly believe that we must be all things to all people at all times.  If that "messiah complex" has crept in, reflect on your initial calling and review your current job description.  Chances are you are going way over and above the demands of duty.

- ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES
Boundryless people helpers seem unable to say "no."  Do we fear being unloved or unappreciated?  Have we become people pleasers?  Do we fear losing our position or sense of identity?  Begin to understand what drives and motivates you.  Fear is a harsh task-master.

- FIND A SUPPORT TEAM
Healthy people helpers pro-actively build a supportive team around them - a regularly scheduled gathering of other like-minded souls.  God can use that in-person, over the phone, or online group as a huge lifeline in our lives.  We need to be in community with others who will be present for us as we debrief, ask us the difficult questions, share helpful resources, laugh and cry with us, and offer much-needed prayer support.

- EMBRACE YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS
Begin to re-create focused time with those you love.  Chances are they've been missing you.

- CUT WAY BACK ON YOUR USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Our society has created a culture where we are always on, always available.  For many, there has become an obsessive compulsiveness to our use of screens.  There is no rest for our minds, leaving us with no space just to be still.  It's time to recognize if this has become a problem.

- TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY
Recognize the signs of stress in your body.  See the doctor for a complete checkup.  Take some vitamins.  Cut way back on grazing on that convenient junk food and begin to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.  Get some additional sleep.  Get outdoors and begin to walk or bike or run.

- TEND TO YOUR SOUL
Times of silence and solitude with God need to become prioritized appointments on our calendars.   The Lover of our souls is the One who's promised to fully restore us {Psalm 23}, and equips us to make decisions that will enable us to "make it our goal to please Him" {2 Corinthians 5:9}.

Running the marathon with you ~
Linda 

- picture by Klaus M -