Rambling thoughts after a short night
15/10/14 05:21
I think it happened to me when I was younger, but I don’t have much memory of the days when I was less productive than others. Occasionally these days, perhaps once a month or so, I find that I have a day when I am less productive than others. I have long had the ability to imagine that I am able to accomplish more than I really am able, so the sensation of accomplishing less than I intended is rather common for me. But some days it feels like I’ve gone through the whole day without accomplishing any of the tasks that are on my list.
Of course, it is important to note (and to remind myself) that my job is often the interruption, not the scheduled work. It is right for me to respond to the needs of the moment, to listen to the person who is in my office and to place the ebb and flow of the lives of the people in the church above a list of tasks to be accomplished. We are in the business of serving people and, as such, their plans often take precedence over our own.
In a nod to age, however, I think that it does actually throw me a bit more when I have to get up in the middle of the night to respond to a crisis than once was the case. These days if I miss too much sleep, I will need to figure out how to do a little make up. And if I push really hard one week, I know that I will accomplish a bit less the next week. It isn’t that I lack energy or enthusiasm for work. In some ways I am as excited as ever to begin each new day and discover what it may hold.
Years ago, when I was doing quite a bit more youth ministry than I do these days, I used to pride myself on being able to be the last one to bed at night and the first one up in the morning and still have the stamina to “out last” the youth. I don’t know how many trips I have made with a van full of sleeping teenagers when I was awake and alert and ready for what was coming. The event had won the teens out, but I had been energized by it. I might take the next day off and take an extra nap, but in the midst of the event, I managed my sleep and energy so that I was equal to the task. Were I to step back in to that role these days, I would be careful to make sure I got enough sleep the night before I was expected to drive. I might delegate “cabin check” on the last night to another responsible adult.
I think that part of what is going on is that I have learned a few things about myself and about the process of ministry that make me more effective. These days I don’t apologize or even attempt to explain if I need to sneak away from the office for a couple of hours for a nap in the midst of a few too many back-to-back 12 and 14 hour days. Although there is not enough time in the week (or the year) to take “comp” time off after a midnight emergency or a run of very long days, I have been able to identify in myself the signs that I need to head home early from the office on a light day.
I have never made a distinction between serving the church, serving the community, or simply responding to a need that that has arisen and is going un met. My call is to serve. Sometimes I reach beyond the congregation because it is what they expect of me. My church wants to serve others and to reach out. Sometimes I do so because it is my internal nature - I belong to the community as much as any other member. Sometimes I reach out because the need is staring me in the face and it would be wrong to ignore it.
Experience has taught me how to listen and respond to genuine need.
Over the span of my career, I have taken the sad news of the death of a teen or young adult to parents too many times. I know that when a teen has the courage to let me know that he is hurting and depressed, I need to respond immediately. I’ll trade a hundred “false alarms” if it might prevent a single suicide.
They say “don’t sweat the small stuff” and follow up with “and it is all small stuff.” The world of ministry doesn’t work that way. Things that seem small can take on really big meaning. The person who stops by office and says, “do you have a minute?” might be the most important conversation of my day. The person who asks “Did I call at an inconvenient time?” might not be albe to wait until it is more convenient.
Experience has also taught me not to waste my time and energy on things that can be handled simply. I feel no obligation to explain myself to those who are calling for political polling or to sell me whatever it is that they are selling. As soon as I identify a “robo” call or get on the end of a sales pitch, I simply hang up these days. No wasted effort. No attempt to change the world, just a quick click and I move on to more important things.
There are great advantages at both ends of the age spectrum. Youth and enthusiasm are great qualities that can be channeled to accomplish wonderful things. Creativity and the willingness to risk are things that are much needed in the church. But wisdom and experience also have their place. And, like every other person of faith, what I have to offer is a product of who I am. May I make a gift of my experience without fear of showing my age.
Of course, it is important to note (and to remind myself) that my job is often the interruption, not the scheduled work. It is right for me to respond to the needs of the moment, to listen to the person who is in my office and to place the ebb and flow of the lives of the people in the church above a list of tasks to be accomplished. We are in the business of serving people and, as such, their plans often take precedence over our own.
In a nod to age, however, I think that it does actually throw me a bit more when I have to get up in the middle of the night to respond to a crisis than once was the case. These days if I miss too much sleep, I will need to figure out how to do a little make up. And if I push really hard one week, I know that I will accomplish a bit less the next week. It isn’t that I lack energy or enthusiasm for work. In some ways I am as excited as ever to begin each new day and discover what it may hold.
Years ago, when I was doing quite a bit more youth ministry than I do these days, I used to pride myself on being able to be the last one to bed at night and the first one up in the morning and still have the stamina to “out last” the youth. I don’t know how many trips I have made with a van full of sleeping teenagers when I was awake and alert and ready for what was coming. The event had won the teens out, but I had been energized by it. I might take the next day off and take an extra nap, but in the midst of the event, I managed my sleep and energy so that I was equal to the task. Were I to step back in to that role these days, I would be careful to make sure I got enough sleep the night before I was expected to drive. I might delegate “cabin check” on the last night to another responsible adult.
I think that part of what is going on is that I have learned a few things about myself and about the process of ministry that make me more effective. These days I don’t apologize or even attempt to explain if I need to sneak away from the office for a couple of hours for a nap in the midst of a few too many back-to-back 12 and 14 hour days. Although there is not enough time in the week (or the year) to take “comp” time off after a midnight emergency or a run of very long days, I have been able to identify in myself the signs that I need to head home early from the office on a light day.
I have never made a distinction between serving the church, serving the community, or simply responding to a need that that has arisen and is going un met. My call is to serve. Sometimes I reach beyond the congregation because it is what they expect of me. My church wants to serve others and to reach out. Sometimes I do so because it is my internal nature - I belong to the community as much as any other member. Sometimes I reach out because the need is staring me in the face and it would be wrong to ignore it.
Experience has taught me how to listen and respond to genuine need.
Over the span of my career, I have taken the sad news of the death of a teen or young adult to parents too many times. I know that when a teen has the courage to let me know that he is hurting and depressed, I need to respond immediately. I’ll trade a hundred “false alarms” if it might prevent a single suicide.
They say “don’t sweat the small stuff” and follow up with “and it is all small stuff.” The world of ministry doesn’t work that way. Things that seem small can take on really big meaning. The person who stops by office and says, “do you have a minute?” might be the most important conversation of my day. The person who asks “Did I call at an inconvenient time?” might not be albe to wait until it is more convenient.
Experience has also taught me not to waste my time and energy on things that can be handled simply. I feel no obligation to explain myself to those who are calling for political polling or to sell me whatever it is that they are selling. As soon as I identify a “robo” call or get on the end of a sales pitch, I simply hang up these days. No wasted effort. No attempt to change the world, just a quick click and I move on to more important things.
There are great advantages at both ends of the age spectrum. Youth and enthusiasm are great qualities that can be channeled to accomplish wonderful things. Creativity and the willingness to risk are things that are much needed in the church. But wisdom and experience also have their place. And, like every other person of faith, what I have to offer is a product of who I am. May I make a gift of my experience without fear of showing my age.