what I learned this week
2008 July 26
our family needs more relax time and fewer weeks where we are on 24/7. I certainly don’t want to sound like a complainer because we love our church and what we do. we’re fortunate. It’s hard sometimes though.
I think that all pastors and families should take a minimum of one week off every quarter. I mean totally off for a week at a time, four times per year and a couple of days here and there in between the four weeks.
Most people don’t really understand or realize (unless they work jobs where they are on call) that a pastor is on call week-in / week-out, weekends and holidays. That also means his family is on call or has to defer plans should somthing come up. Yes it is a calling and yes it’s not just a job but pastors and their families are human beings making their way through life just like everyone else ONLY NOT just like everyone else. Not that we all don’t have family & friends on our minds and in our thoughts and prayers. I just think that pastors, for the most part, have that and more, maybe feel the weight of responsibility a bit more along with concern for the well being of his flock. Plus he gets to hear and deal with all the “stuff” that is going on in several families and lives. Anyway I just wanted you to know that I agree with you and have always felt that the flock or congregation should minister back to the minister – one way or another. I think at Wheatland we should be mindful of this as a community of believers and followers of Christ! love brad
thank you so much Brad. We do feel cared for. We love you guys.
I agree with Brad. I don’t know if you got swept up into the “7 habits of highly effective people” thing several years ago, but I really liked that he included this in it: if you don’t take care of yourself, you soon won’t be able to take care of anyone else. He called it “the Production/Production Capacity balance,” which has a faddish business jargon ring to it, but that’s basically what he meant.
I need to take a vacation myself sometime soon.
I should read that book again…it’s been awhile.