I have preached against overwork for years. I've condemned others (vocally and internally) for consistent overworking. I've prided myself in my "structural preventions" for working too much. In our house, we have a weekly sabbath, family night, and date night. I arrogantly believed that these protected me from the increasingly common problem of overworking.
"Pride comes before the fall" (Proverbs 16:18).
As a pastor, I expect to work 50-55 hours a week. If we expect church members to work 40 hours a week, attend worship services, hang out with church people, and volunteer, then it's fair to expect pastors to put in about the same amount of time. I've thought for years that my structural barriers kept me at around the 50 hour mark, and that difficult weeks wouldn't push me too far overboard.
Difficult circumstances and a new baby have forced me to reexamine my schedule. I was shocked when I counted my hours in a normal work week. My normal - not so difficult week - totals 57 working hours. That put a quantifiable explanation to my feelings of fatigue, depression, overload, imbalance, and inability to catch-up at home. No wonder I've been tired. No wonder I can't seem to do any of the things I've been wanting to do at home. No wonder I haven't been doing any art. No wonder I feel stressed and anxious. I'm chronically overloaded!
How did this happen? After preaching against overwork and being a staunch supporter of simplicity, how did I end up a victim of one of my own greatest enemies?
"Pride comes before the fall" (Proverbs 16:18).
As a pastor, I expect to work 50-55 hours a week. If we expect church members to work 40 hours a week, attend worship services, hang out with church people, and volunteer, then it's fair to expect pastors to put in about the same amount of time. I've thought for years that my structural barriers kept me at around the 50 hour mark, and that difficult weeks wouldn't push me too far overboard.Difficult circumstances and a new baby have forced me to reexamine my schedule. I was shocked when I counted my hours in a normal work week. My normal - not so difficult week - totals 57 working hours. That put a quantifiable explanation to my feelings of fatigue, depression, overload, imbalance, and inability to catch-up at home. No wonder I've been tired. No wonder I can't seem to do any of the things I've been wanting to do at home. No wonder I haven't been doing any art. No wonder I feel stressed and anxious. I'm chronically overloaded!
How did this happen? After preaching against overwork and being a staunch supporter of simplicity, how did I end up a victim of one of my own greatest enemies?
