3 lessons I learned about bivocational pastoring from almost burning out
I almost burned out in March. Here's 3 lesson on bivocational ministry I learned from the experience.
In March I almost burned out.
I was taking a course at bible collage, my kids were ill most of the month and a war started just over our boarder with several repercussions. And to top it off, I was taking ship 30 which I had signed up for back in January (when I didn’t know the time table for my bible collage course).
By the end of March I was running on fumes and had to stop doing anything extra for a while.
During April, I spent some time reflecting, aided by work staying hectic, so here are three lessons and I’ve drawn from that time and changes I’m making.
1. Margin is important
If you plan to be busy, life1 will find a way to be extra busy.
My April was set to be a busy month, so when more came along, I was overloaded. I should have cut back on some more or not taken on so much. That way I could cope with the extra stuff that came along.
By leaving space, I am open to God filling it with his plans.
2. Say no to good things, to say yes to your calling
David Allen, inventor of the GTD productivity system, said “You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.”
March was proof for me. By trying to do two courses at one time, I didn’t give either the full attention it deserved. Worse still, I was unable to be as active in my church as I would have liked.
By trying to have two cakes and eat them, I ended up eating neither.
This is why knowing your calling is so important.
If you can come back to what God has called you to, whether vocally; via guidance or the intersection of your passions, skills and opportunities, then it's easier to say no.
Not easy, but easier.
3. People time and paper time
During the toughest points, I was so focused on getting things done and my studies that I had no time for people.
I heard Adam Copenhaver on the Expositors Collective Podcast call this "paper time and people time." Paper time is time in books and study — important stuff for academic writing, sermons and serving. People time is time with people — vital for pastoring, sermons, and serving.
By neglecting people time I was worse off, I was failing to serve and my ideas were more abstract.
By not planning properly, I ended up neglecting the actions I really needed to be effective. Sure, there are times when we all need to step back a bit, but if I had noticed that I would need to step back, I could have mitigated the effects.
Burnout is not something to glory in
There's a culture of overwork which can look at what I did and view it positively.
It wasn't.
By failing to consider things properly I risked my health and my relationships. Good productivity involves time off and not trying to single handedly save the world.
I hope my mistakes can help you avoid the same.
and by life, I mean God, the world and the devil. ↩︎
