Grace Notes 2022-01-19
I recently heard a podcast that dealt with burnout, especially related to people’s vocations during the lengthy pandemic. Such burnout was also addressed among Pastors, church workers, and all the participating members of congregations.
As your Pastor I can relate to the stress, the uncertainties, the frustrations, and the disappointments. At the same time, by the grace of God, I am convinced I know some sure ways to develop immunity against burnout. I hazard to share a few with you.
A rich devotional life consisting of Bible reading, meditation and prayer is a source of Divine energy. It is so important it is worth setting an alarm and getting up earlier for uninterrupted time to connect with God.
Knowing who you are and what you are here for is an incredible and irreducible source of stability and strength. While our culture advocates the search for one’s authentic identity, our Christian Faith has already bequeathed our identity and vocation with our Baptismal Faith.
When our elites talk about “essential workers” many of them don’t have a clue. How’s this, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58). And we all are to serve the Lord and our neighbor, even in the jobs and careers we do. And this is essential.
Avoid isolation. Don’t try ‘going it alone’. Ask for help. Whenever possible know that virtual forms of community are sterile and are a poor, if sometimes a temporarily necessary, substitution.
Get physical. Exercise. Get outdoors and into the woods. Go places. See people. Take reasonable risks. Life for the child of God is not meant for mere survival in this temporal age. Living is not the same as merely existing. Leave it to unbelievers to live like there is no tomorrow. Being promised a bright tomorrow by the one who died and rose again, we can dare to live passionately now.
Since You Asked…
What is an Alb? And why does our Pastor wear one?
Alb (from the Latin “white”): a white ankle-length vestment with sleeves, often gathered at the waist with a cincture, worn by all ranks of ministers, ordained and unordained. The classical tunic became a specific church vestment about the fifth century. One of the functions of an ordained minister in our tradition is for that person to represent Christ to the people. Christ is pictured in the Book of Revelation with a white robe. The white robe is also a symbol of his righteousness. For this reason, the alb is a proper covering for the presiding minister with the function of representing Christ to the people. (from “Manual on the Liturgy” companion to the LBW, from Augsburg Pub.)