I recently enjoyed a brief conversation with a “seasoned” pastor, in which we acknowledged our common experience of needing to be wise in how we budget our energy at this stage in life. We can’t do everything we did when we were young bucks in the ministry.
Our experience is not unique to pastors. It is probably true of every person in leadership, but the life of a pastor is what I know best.
We enter this vocation with a sense of calling and a desire to make a difference in the world. And because we want to prove ourselves, serve God, and serve people, we consider ourselves indispensible. For pastors, that means we are there for everything: every committee meeting, every surgery, every church activity, every class party. We see it as our jobs to “take care of” everyone. Call us at 2:00 a.m. and we will be there. Three surgeries at three different hospitals on the same day? We will somehow make it for every one.
Until we can’t.
It doesn’t always happen at the same age for everyone, but there is a point where we realize that we cannot do everything. We have limited energy and we have to use it wisely. So we sometimes have to make a phone call instead of a personal visit. We sometimes have to arrive at the hospital after someone is in recovery instead of at 5:00 a.m. before they go in. And we sometimes have to … gasp … include other people in ministry.
In the conversation that inspired today’s thoughts, this seasoned pastor—who is an example of everything good about pastors—told me that, if he could choose between the two, he much preferred being the young guy who could do everything.
I understand, but as I pondered further, I came to a different conclusion for me. What if we could combine the wisdom of maturity (or “seasoning”) with the energy and enthusiasm of youth? What if I had known how to work “smarter” when I had all that energy to work “harder?”
I think there are a couple of near-universal truths here: (1) Most young leaders think they are wiser than they really are. (2) Most older leaders think they have less energy than they really have.
The first truth leads to the development of unhealthy and ineffective habits. The second truth is often a result of those habits and leads to frustration and regret.
I am doing something this week that I don’t think I have ever done before in Life Matters. This week, I’m presenting the issue. Next week, I’ll present a possible positive solution.
So, for now, I’ll end with a question: “Where do you find yourself in this energy/wisdom dilemma?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your perspective.
