categories: priorities
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Lessons from a Reforming Workaholic
Here are a few things I’m learning about taking time off:
- Two consecutive weekends off from preaching is ten times better than one.
- Time off makes “time on” much more effective.
- Even if I don’t feel like I need to be off, my family often needs me off to focus completely on them.
- My church enjoys hearing from others.
- Most people are supportive when you take care of yourself.
- Staying in town when you’re off doesn’t feel like being off. (Someone always needs something.)
- Speaking somewhere besides your church is not a weekend off.
- Going to church somewhere else is a huge blessing.
What can you add about taking time off? What works?
Visit 
*Turn off the Blackberry
*Don’t talk about your church or work
Craig, I totally agree that going to church somewhere else is a blessing. Whenever I take off and we stay in town we always go to People’s Church (Herbert Cooper). My wife and I are going to Atlanta here pretty soon; I think we will go check out Buckhead.
*Don’t check work related email
At my job we get every other Friday off during the summer. The only way I can truly enjoy that day off is if I _don’t_ check my work email. Too frequently I am curious as to what is going on while I’m not there. What will I have to deal with when I get back on Monday? I have to keep reminding myself that it will all be there waiting for me on Monday, whether I know about it on Friday or not.
From the outside . . . I am a *partner* at Lifechurch.tv and I saw Craig and his family out last Friday getting pizza. I so wanted to discuss the amazing teaching and how I appreciate his style and how it would be awesome if I could just honor him by taking up all his time while he was having dinner with his fami……….
While I have great respect for my pastor I know he’s just a guy, who needs to be a dad and husband and not a pastor ALL the time. We waved, my son went and said “hi” to his teacher from Studio 45.
Time off can happen in small pieces when allowed
My pastor would ask me if on my sabbath day I was making myself intentionally unreachable. No phone, email, blog, youth kids over, etc.
INTERESTING! CRAIG! LOVE what you’re doing! I must say, I have this theory that we’re leading our churches wrong! That the weight is not supposed to be on 1 guy and a small staff, that we’re supposed to be ministering to each other, teach, serving etc. Therefore, I see this as further evidence/support. B/c
1. pastors have a high burn-out rate - they’re not designed to carry all that weight.
2. time off is huge for you - you’re not designed to carry all that weight.
3. we idolize the lead teaching pastor - not good
4. since the professional does all the talking, we think we have nothing valuable to say. Not biblically true - we’re a body - we all have important stuff for each other (not necessarily something to say)
As a body, there are many of us (10%? 20%?) gifted in teaching, preaching, wisdom. We do a disservice to ourselves to put it all on one guy - and we do a disservice to that guy because it burns him out. We need a new model.
Noel, Thanks for the kind words. Next time, come say “hi.” Thanks for your love and concern!
Karl, Wow… Intentionally unreachable. Some may not always have that luxury, but I appreciate the advice of your pastor.
Jesse, Great wisdom. Thanks.
House phone off (or message machine if it’s important).
Crackberry off.
On my birthday I took the day off so my wife and I could spend some time. So I told my team members that I will be leaving the crackberry at home.
I can identify with all the above, especially since my family and I are currently in Atlanta taking a well deserved break. I am also taking the next couple of Sunday’s off since I have you and a few other guest speakers at The Well.
I’m taking my first week off in a year this week, and I’m heading to Colorado to hang out with some life long friends. These guys know everything about me, so I can just be real with them and they can be honest with me. We are going to play a little golf, worship at a church where I have no responsibility whatsoever, and just recall a lot of our favorite stories from the past.
Hmmm…don’t fill it with errands. Figure out what feeds your soul and what your family enjoys together and don’t waste your time off JUST doing work around the house or watching TV (although just vegging days are good too). Be very proactive and make plans ahead of time. While prepping for sabbatical I found this great resource. I didn’t use it but it’s a FREE week away for vocational ministers. (not just senior pastors) It might be a good chance for a spiritual break:
http://www.pastorsretreatnetwork.org/
A great book that touches on many of the internal issues we’ve discussed, particularly yesterday, is “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” by Peter Scazzero. It was life-altering for me. His testimony is scary!
Finally, take care of yourself. It’s the only gift you have to give.
I will echo Jan’s statements on Scazzero’s book. This book helped me put a lot of stuff into perspective. Last year, I was forced into taking a two and a half month sabbatical (by health issues) because I wasn’t taking the time to take care of myself. I now take two days off a week (in a row) with one of those days being a true sabbath (no work). I still work the same amount of hours BUT I feel so much more refreshed. Pastors need to realize that it is NOT a SIN to take care of themselves!
To add to Jan’s comments and some other I read about being able to aford to take a vacation. Let me offer a few suggestions from someone who is on a rather “tight” budget.
http://faithmountain.org/index.html — Faith mountin is in WV, just got home from there yesterday, great place
http://www.fairhavenministries.net/ — went there 2 years in a row, what a relaxing place.
Both of those places offer a rate for people in ministry of $50 a night. Both have kitchens you can cook in (saving tons of $$ on food). Both places understand ministry, understand rest. Both have very limited cell phone reception (huge plus!)
I know there are more then those 2 out there. Just thought I would share what I know. Please, you owe it ot the church you are serving, get out of there for a least week!
Jan and Kevin, Thanks for the book recommendation. I haven’t read it but will check it out.
Dan, Thank you for recommending some affordable getaways!
Four words come to mind: Sun, Sand, Surf and Silence ~ of course, all four are very rare for me here in Detroit… but, I can still dream… So, I normally retreat to a friends rooftop condo downtown and hide for a few days (or at least, a few hours)…
A question: During your “time off” do you find that your devotional & prayer time(s) increase or do they also relax a bit? Curious.
Craig, Scazzero has two books that are worth reading “The Emotionally Healthy Church” (he wrote this one first) and “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.” I went to his conference at his church in New York on this material and it was awesome. I would HIGHLY recommend these two books to EVERY pastor to read. They will change your life, your marriage, your church and the way you do ministry! Also, if you get the chance, go to his conference in New York next year on May 1st and 2nd.
@Kevin, would you agree that reading “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” first would be the way to go? I read the “EHChurch” first but “EHS” was more personal to me, i sort of wished I had read them in reverse order.
Glad to hear about the conference. I desperately wanted to go this past year. Maybe I can in 09.
@Chilly - I find that it differs from day to day. I find that I linger longer in my quiet times with God and am more creative, such as taking walks, journaling, even using photography as I draw close to God. But sometimes I just lay about and veg……..
Craig,
I believe you mentioned the following idea–or something similar–in a previous post (it’s worked for me):
Take longer breaks for deeper rest vs. multiple, mini-breaks for temporary fixes
It’s okay to mix things up; everyone’s situation will probably determine when, and for how long, they can “vacate the premises”…
Either way, rest as hard as you work.
@Jan, yes I agree that reading “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” first is the most beneficial. For me, it helped set the framework for “EH Church” even though it was written after. I enjoyed both of the books.
@Dan B. - I went to Fair Havens (in Canada) when I was on my “forced Sabbatical”. I would highly recommend them as well.
Funny I blogged about this a few days ago before even seeing this post. I have learned the importance of “creating” downtime for my husband because left on his own he just would not do it.