Hear this truth from a retired pastor: Easter is a wonderful day, a day, two days, maybe a week of services with record attendance, often record giving, and yes, even lives transformed by a risen Savior. On Monday, most honest pastors and church staffs will quietly confess they are spent. Rehearsed out. Exhausted and yet even puzzled by such tongue-draggin’ efforts. Add their own time with family, out of town guests or just being friendly even to the CEO’s (“Christmas-Easter ONLY” visitors!), and I hear weary and lowered voice enthusiasm about nearly anything.
I tried in several settings as head of staff to get church offices closed AT LEAST on Monday, preferably the entire week, following Easter (in many churches, Easter week is now busier than Christmas time).
My point? Unless you have an emergency, let church staff alone this week. Or take them all out to lunch. Order them to go home early. Padlock the church doors if you have the authority.
Larger takeaway to staff and Easter attendees: review your pacing. Take a REAL day off every week. Take your vacation/study leave/holidays and rest. No, retirement is not the cure for this (I was worn out from Easter travels, family hosting, attending two churches, emergencies, and I did not even preach).
Need evidence? Even the resurrected Jesus Himself appeared quietly to just a few folks in the days immediately following…and, dare I say it, He was/is GOD. If you are feeling a bit less than God today, consider your current pacing.
The hope of Jesus turning death around is that everything gets remade…death, life and yes, the expectations I put on myself, the battles with evil I fight and the need to be needed.
Work, worship and play. That’s resurrected pacing. Jesus spent time in a garden, visited a fish fry, appeared in a room with friends and THEN began to appear to crowds. Does that sound like frantic to you? How about refreshing? Maybe even a new beginning?
Happy Post Easter week, friends. Now, does your smartphone, iPad or laptop calendar show that?
What needs to happen?
Ah, the calming voice of reason amongst the madness. What a refreshing post!
Thanks, DM, though I’m starting to think as a retired monk, I can now say anything I like….dangerous! Still I’d like at least one more generation of church leaders to make it, or maybe I’m just glad I knew when I could no longer keep adding vitamins to keep up the energy, even in a thriving setting. The blog muse is starting to disturb me…to write a bit more, but I’ll do my best not to merely “mouth off.” Wish I could send your response to a couple of church boards “way back when…” who didn’t quite share your assessment of moi.
Holy hugs and Easter pacing backatcha. Tom