Proclaimer Blog
The deadline looms
Sometimes, through no fault of our own, deadlines come upon us that put us under severe pressure. That’s the nature of the task. For the record, I don’t have a huge amount of sympathy for pressures that come because we can’t organise ourselves very well (and you’re in ministry because….? Remember 1 Tim 3.4) nor pressures that arise because we’re lazy. Nevertheless, putting our sins aside, sometimes deadlines do pile up. This week I’ve got a very difficult funeral, a boss who needs to be absent, a senior pastor away just when some key pastoral stuff has arisen. It just happens that way sometimes.
Here’s what I’ve written in my journal as learning points (principally for my own benefit, but they may be helpful).
1. Don’t get into the habit of being a last minute junkie. I’ve quite enjoyed the positive stress that such pressing needs can bring. It could easily become habit forming. This is not normal –nor must I allow it to be so.
2. It’s OK to stretch the day once in a while. Today is a day of burning the candle at both ends. My loving Mrs R understands this and my kind daughter accommodates it. But, again, such stretching is OK sometimes, but must not become commonplace. Capacity is lower than today’s stretch.
3. Don’t sacrifice prayer time. Tempting though it is, it’s a false economy. I work in an office and we meet to pray every Monday. This week I made sure I still did, even though every fibre of my sinful being was crying out “you’ve too much to do…”
4. Be happy with less than perfection. I like to get things exactly right and I work very hard at sermons. But a good pastor needs to be able to leave things with the Lord, even when circumstances have meant that my normal eight hour sermon prep has been curtailed.
5. Don’t tell people how hard you’re working. I realise the irony of this point, given that I’m telling you, but don’t dare offer me any pity. I feed on self-pity and yours will not help one bit. I do have a temptation to make something of my self-sacrifice from the pulpit, but this is one sin that must be mastered.
6. Seek more grace. Always.