Bob at Pastor Hacks had an entry that is worth considering:
“Danny and I continued to converse throughout the week about his prayer. He asked, ‘How do I learn to love these people?’ As I sought to understand more about the circumstances, Danny told me he felt consumed by the daily demands of ministry. In an urban congregation averaging 220 in worship attendance, he often worked sixty or more hours each week. The demands of preaching, pastoral care and administration often overwhelmed him. His only encounter with the Bible came as he prepared to preach and teach. He rarely had a long period of quiet reflection. In the stress of work, he had also developed a pattern of neglecting his relationships with his wife and sixteen year old daughter.”
“The assumption of Jesus’ program for his people on earth was that they would live their lives as his students and co-laborers. They would find him so admirable in every respect– wise, beautiful, powerful, and good– that they would constantly seek to be in his presence and be guided, instructed and helped by him in every aspect of their lives.”– Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy
This story illustrates a reallity that I experience and many of my friends who are “in the ministry” live also. Lives become overbusy; the needs of the church overwhelm the needs of the spiritual life, and it’s easy to skate along on good intentions.
But we’re all in need of better than good intentions. We’re in need of intentionally shaping our souls in Christlikeness for the purpose of long-term pursuit of mission. We need to not burn out and fade away, whether in our leadership or in our life in general.
And there are time – honored practices that help us to pursue Christ. There are choices that we can make to practice our faith.
It’s doable. We can choose a better way.
pat loughery 
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