vocation

Burn

/ JJS / Leave a comment

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 93; 150, Exodus 3:1-12, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 10:17-24

Burnout is a reality of modern life. We can experience burnout at work, at church, and even with our family. When we become burned out, our motivation, dedication, and productivity all suffer. More than fatigue which saps our physical and emotional strength, burnout saps our spiritual strength. Exhaustion is the inability to go on; burnout is the unwillingness to.

In Exodus, Moses first encounters God when he notices a bush that is burning but is not consumed. From the flames, God speaks to Moses about how He plans to use this exiled Egyptian Jew to free the nation of Israel. In the decades that followed, Moses might have felt a lot like that bush. Igniting him to a higher purpose, the power and will of God infused him with a spiritual fire that led the people out of Egypt and through forty years in the desert, yet he was able to endure it all without being consumed. Sometimes an exhausted Moses might have wished for it all to be at an end, but God sustained him.

When we suspect we are beginning to burn out, it is time to reevaluate what we are doing. Is it really our job or family that is burning us out, or is it our attitude? If it’s the former, we can seek an external change. If it’s the latter, we must work on internal change. Either way, let’s consider one of the first things God said to Moses: “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” It’s not enough to simply stop what we’re doing. We need to find a way to make contact with the holy ground God would have us walk. We need to strip bare not just our feet, but our souls, emotions, fears, and desires until we hear God’s call again. Maybe he will start us on a new journey, or maybe he will fortify us for the next forty years.

Every place we stand is holy ground, if we are listening for the voice of God. Let us hear. Let us burn.

Comfort: When you are tired or unsure, bare yourself to God for renewal.

Challenge: Where in your life are you most subject to burnout? Work? School? Home? Pray about what you can do to transform your situation from an out of control wildfire to a burning bush.

Prayer: Ever loving God, grant me the wisdom to find the path you have laid out before me, and the strength to follow it faithfully. Amen.

Join the discussion! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to join an extended discussion as part of the C+C Facebook group. You’ll be notified of new posts through FB, and have the opportunity to share your thoughts with some lovely people.

Collecting Calls

/ JJS / Leave a comment

ring-ring-ring-1520209-1280x960

Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 51; 148, 1 Samuel 3:1-21, Acts 2:37-47, Luke 21:5-19

What do you feel called to do?

To leave behind a legacy – a lasting work that will be remembered long after you’re gone? To make the most of this life through travel, friendship, love, art, or memories forged?  To stillness and simplicity, an empyting of the self that allows you to simply be? So many possibilities. Could it be that ultimately all these callings are in pursuit of the same thing?

Young Samuel, who had served under Eli at the temple in Shiloh, had a literal calling from the Lord. Twice one night the Lord called to him, but both times Samuel mistook the voice for Eli, and twice Eli sent him back to his room. The third time the Lord called, Eli realized what was going on and told Samuel to say, “Speak, for your servant is listening.“

The message the Lord had for Samuel was one of destruction for Eli and his corrupt sons, who abused the priesthood and their nation. Eli seemed resigned to his fate, saying only, “It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him.”

Aren’t we all called to contentment and a feeling of completeness? We can head down a lot of wrong roads trying to figure out where that call is leading us. Accomplishments – of wealth, fame, creativity, etc. – for their own sake never quite get us there; it seems there’s always one more hurdle to leap before the finish line. Even when we are doing our best to serve the Lord it can seem like we’re knocking on all the wrong doors. If someone doesn’t prompt us to pause and take stock, we may never ask whether we’re answering the right call.

Eli, for all his failings, finally understood the most peaceful thing we can do is trust and obey God. Does that mean not having to make any effort? To the contrary, it make take a whole lot of effort, but as Christ assures us his burden is light.

That hole in your heart isn’t waiting to be filled by God. It’s where God waits to be found.

Read more on today’s passage from Luke in The Best Defense or more about our Acts passage in Christian Community.

Comfort: Sometimes you can find out where you need to go when you stop moving for a little while.

Challenge: Keep a diary of how you spend your time. What does it tell you about your priorities?

Prayer: Speak, for your servant is listening.

Discussion: What kind of activity do you find the most fulfilling?

Join the discussion! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to join an extended discussion as part of the C+C Facebook group. You’ll be notified of new posts through FB, and have the opportunity to share your thoughts with some lovely people. Or feel free to comment here on WordPress, or even re-blog – the more the merrier!