One of my favorite parts of the presidential debates is being logged in on Facebook and watching people's statuses throughout! You get to see who wanted to throw something, who marks one moment as a key moment, and who is just worn out by it all. Last night was no different. But one thing I saw last night for the first time was someone posting that they weren't watching the debate and really couldn't care less.
Indeed, aren't we all getting a bit worn out by it all? The campaign tied with the economic crisis seems to throws such highs, lows, and repetativeness at us that it's like we don't even know how to respond to anything anymore. And it's infecting all of us!
I'm actually interested to talk to the teachers I know--this week were parent-teacher conferences, and I'm interested to find out if teachers are seeing the same increase in stress and anxiety (which comes out as anger, illogical-ness and general grumpiness) in parents as other leaders like pastors are seeing with the people they work with. It was little suprise to most pastors when the American Psychological Association announced that stress level in our country have reach record heights, along with high levels of bad ways to cope with stress. What is perhaps most dangerous is the insiduous way stress wratchets up the tension all around us, so that we enter even neutral situations predisposed to stress, and are even less able to deal effectively and maturely with other difficult situations in our lives. Our nation truly does need to step back and take a deep breath!
A couple weeks ago, our DISCIPLE class at church read through the creation accounts, and as always, it was interesting to hear different takes on passages I've read before. One class member talked about reading the repetative "God said...and it was good" in the context of being a parent, and knowing how important routine and order is to children.--and how they need to be reassured. She pointed out that God's words here seem to offer that same comfort, "It's good. I've got it under control, and I know what I'm doing. It will be okay. It's good." I think that's a message we all need to hear right now.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Economy
So this Sunday's Faith Topic is our economy...what it means for us as Christians and what we might be called to do.
I wanted to post some videos, but man, looking around YouTube, there is a ton of junk. It's tough to wade through. So I'll keep looking, but I wanted to give some other links for you to look over in case you're interested and/or wanting to prepare for our discussion Sunday (we will meet in the sanctuary immediately after worship).
The United Methodist Church's General Board of Church and Society: check out their link to a statement on the current economic crisis, but also, bookmark this site a good resource for future discussions, and just generally checking out what social issues our denomination is looking at at any given time (http://www.umc-gbcs.org)
Rev. Adam Hamilton speaks about the importance of simplicity to Christians (VIDEO): http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/blog/2008/10/adam-hamilton-revisiting-the-n.html
Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, on how fear is affecting so many, and how we can start talking about this together: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/a-pastoral-strategy-for-a_b_133370.html
Other Articles (I've posted a range, to get us all thinking...so even if you disagree with an article, check it out so you have an idea of some different perspectives):
http://www.christianity.com/Home/Christian%20Living%20Features/11582124/
http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2008/10/03/the-international-financial-crisis/
http://www.charismamag.com/cms/news/archives/100108.php
And let me know if you have any other interesting links to share...!
I wanted to post some videos, but man, looking around YouTube, there is a ton of junk. It's tough to wade through. So I'll keep looking, but I wanted to give some other links for you to look over in case you're interested and/or wanting to prepare for our discussion Sunday (we will meet in the sanctuary immediately after worship).
The United Methodist Church's General Board of Church and Society: check out their link to a statement on the current economic crisis, but also, bookmark this site a good resource for future discussions, and just generally checking out what social issues our denomination is looking at at any given time (http://www.umc-gbcs.org)
Rev. Adam Hamilton speaks about the importance of simplicity to Christians (VIDEO): http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/blog/2008/10/adam-hamilton-revisiting-the-n.html
Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, on how fear is affecting so many, and how we can start talking about this together: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/a-pastoral-strategy-for-a_b_133370.html
Other Articles (I've posted a range, to get us all thinking...so even if you disagree with an article, check it out so you have an idea of some different perspectives):
http://www.christianity.com/Home/Christian%20Living%20Features/11582124/
http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2008/10/03/the-international-financial-crisis/
http://www.charismamag.com/cms/news/archives/100108.php
And let me know if you have any other interesting links to share...!
The Economy: Ridiculous Panic (ala the Daily Show)
Check out this caricature (which is perhaps not all too off base for some people) of how some are reacting to the current markets.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F9CqNADGjQ
Planning
There is something quite theraputic in being able to plan. Now, on one level, that's kind of crazy to say...because planning can feel daunting and overwhelming. But on the other hand, we all need a direction, a point to head towards. Proverbs is right when it says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." I think this is as true for groups as it is individuals.
I certainly know the feeling when the pressing concerns of the immediate seem to bog down. The days, weeks, even months, when I have not engaged in much long term planning has dragged down everything else I try to do. That is one of the truths (and perhaps paradoxes) of leadership: to lead powerfully and with wisdom and excitement now, we have to always be thinking very intentionally about the future.
Here of late I've been facing the same challenge. Between charge conference, meetings, finances, short-term worship planning, visitation, sermon prep, getting things together for newsletters and bulletins, and all the other things that come to me throughout each day via phone, e-mails, etc., what has most energized me has been the far-out planning: thinking more intentionally about the format a multi-site congregation may take, attending the new church start conference in VA in November, being asked again to help with annual conference worship, etc., and just generally taking a few moments to look beyond the immediate (though those immediate things do need resolution and attention) helps keep me motivated. I suspect, then, that it truly is a very good question to ask a pastor (or any other leader) who is feeling burned-out and worn down, "What is your vision for the future?" on any number of levels. The ability to answer the question may help energize, and the inability to answer would be reflective of a deeper frustration that needs to be more fully addressed.
What is your vision for the future? This is the question that is also very timly in an election season. Indeed, it is a question we would all do well to ask ourselves daily, and certainly each time we make a major decision. What is your vision, and how does this or that action help (or hurt) your ability to see that vision come to fruition?
I certainly know the feeling when the pressing concerns of the immediate seem to bog down. The days, weeks, even months, when I have not engaged in much long term planning has dragged down everything else I try to do. That is one of the truths (and perhaps paradoxes) of leadership: to lead powerfully and with wisdom and excitement now, we have to always be thinking very intentionally about the future.
Here of late I've been facing the same challenge. Between charge conference, meetings, finances, short-term worship planning, visitation, sermon prep, getting things together for newsletters and bulletins, and all the other things that come to me throughout each day via phone, e-mails, etc., what has most energized me has been the far-out planning: thinking more intentionally about the format a multi-site congregation may take, attending the new church start conference in VA in November, being asked again to help with annual conference worship, etc., and just generally taking a few moments to look beyond the immediate (though those immediate things do need resolution and attention) helps keep me motivated. I suspect, then, that it truly is a very good question to ask a pastor (or any other leader) who is feeling burned-out and worn down, "What is your vision for the future?" on any number of levels. The ability to answer the question may help energize, and the inability to answer would be reflective of a deeper frustration that needs to be more fully addressed.
What is your vision for the future? This is the question that is also very timly in an election season. Indeed, it is a question we would all do well to ask ourselves daily, and certainly each time we make a major decision. What is your vision, and how does this or that action help (or hurt) your ability to see that vision come to fruition?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Another Monday
So Mondays are my day off, and Chris and I have been doing pretty good keeping those as full days off. Today, though, we both have had some things to do. For Chris, it was dealing with some facilities issues that needed to be looked at today. For me it has been working on some charge conference stuff and trying to finalize a newsletter insert---I'm torn between wanting to get the newsletter out, but also wanting to include some information like the nominations slate, that people will want to see.
I've really been struggling lately, as I hear most pastors have been in a very anxious time, and what's more, in my area, an era of great change in the community, to think through (on my own and with others) the path forward. One of the biggest factors of course is not so much the issues as how people deal with them. There are always those who will come with constructive criticism and even support at times (imagine that!) while there are others who seem to find behind the back ways to try to control things. This is what always wears leaders out. And it's always ironic that the very people who act that way are often the ones who, if successful, can most effectively destroy any organization. It's not their purpose but their manner. And while it is comforting to hear from other pastors and leaders that this is all to be expected, it's pretty ridiculous.
We see this in our nation--partly a lot of us are gossiping about what's happening because we can't actually go right to the president and ask questions or offer suggestions. And look what a panic we can cause! The truth is we don't actually know what the future holds. And the wisest financial minds among us are careful not to overstate their certainty of anything. What we all seem to agree on is we'll work through it. But that can end up meaning a lot of things. It mostly means, however, all just digging in and pushing forward together. Sometimes we face (in our lives, our families, our churches, our nation, and our world) situations that just have to be worked through--messy though it may be. At our best we can do this by evidencing all our best qualities of patience, commitment, teamwork and sacrifice. At our worst, we are marred by self-interest, panic, apathy, blame and passive-aggressiveness. I am convinced, however, that some crises can actually cause a group to change the way they deal with each other. A crisis that does, in the end, bring people together, can be an incredible (even though painful) thing.
So we'll see. We are hearing from all over that our nation's anxiety level is skyrocketing, and we seeit affecting all sorts of things. Perhaps once this election is over, even if we are still walking through a difficult financial time, we will really be able to take a few moments to just calm down, take a deep breath, and walk through this together...as our very best selves.
I've really been struggling lately, as I hear most pastors have been in a very anxious time, and what's more, in my area, an era of great change in the community, to think through (on my own and with others) the path forward. One of the biggest factors of course is not so much the issues as how people deal with them. There are always those who will come with constructive criticism and even support at times (imagine that!) while there are others who seem to find behind the back ways to try to control things. This is what always wears leaders out. And it's always ironic that the very people who act that way are often the ones who, if successful, can most effectively destroy any organization. It's not their purpose but their manner. And while it is comforting to hear from other pastors and leaders that this is all to be expected, it's pretty ridiculous.
We see this in our nation--partly a lot of us are gossiping about what's happening because we can't actually go right to the president and ask questions or offer suggestions. And look what a panic we can cause! The truth is we don't actually know what the future holds. And the wisest financial minds among us are careful not to overstate their certainty of anything. What we all seem to agree on is we'll work through it. But that can end up meaning a lot of things. It mostly means, however, all just digging in and pushing forward together. Sometimes we face (in our lives, our families, our churches, our nation, and our world) situations that just have to be worked through--messy though it may be. At our best we can do this by evidencing all our best qualities of patience, commitment, teamwork and sacrifice. At our worst, we are marred by self-interest, panic, apathy, blame and passive-aggressiveness. I am convinced, however, that some crises can actually cause a group to change the way they deal with each other. A crisis that does, in the end, bring people together, can be an incredible (even though painful) thing.
So we'll see. We are hearing from all over that our nation's anxiety level is skyrocketing, and we seeit affecting all sorts of things. Perhaps once this election is over, even if we are still walking through a difficult financial time, we will really be able to take a few moments to just calm down, take a deep breath, and walk through this together...as our very best selves.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Don't Panic
So that seems to be this and last week's theme, perhaps a theme for life: DON'T PANIC. We hear it all over the news now as the markets wobble on news of closings, bankruptcies and buy-outs. It is the answer to every level of the crisis..."If people/corporations/creditors/etc. can just stay calm..."
I've experienced it time and again, even recently, as a pastor and as a person. Panic and anxiety are perhaps the greatest destructive force we know. It's why FDR's line speaks to us throughout time, "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." (From his First Inaugural Address)
And the truth is, we see this all the time. As I look back over the missteps in my life or ministry, I can almost universally say they were the result of panic. Of reacting to my own or others' fears without stepping back to take a deep breath. The irony always is that it's usually those whose own panic wratcheted up the system's anxiety that are the first and loudest to attack the system's response to it!
The key is finding ways to maintain relative calm in the face of challenges. That doesn't mean avoidance (we often call behavior like this passive-aggressive) but rather being able to be present but non-anxious.
These ideas have been skillfully drawn out by Rabbi Edwin Friedman in his writings, including Generation to Generation and A Failure of Nerve. Another favorite is Friedman's Fables--which I'm really hoping to lead a study of at church sometime soon.
Rabbi Friedman talks about how we live in a chronically-anxious society, and how this shapes us and all our interactions. He talks about this in the framework of family-systems theory, as he applies that lens not only to families but also to churches, businesses, governments, etc.
I could go on and on, but what has struck me here of late is how true this all is and has always been. It's a bit counter-intuitive. I mean, there's this natural tendency to tell ourselves there is a problem and we must fix it, and to feel an immediate time pressure to do so. But sometimes---perhaps far more often than we would like to admit---our rush to "fix" a problem simply exacerbates it.
May we all learn to take a step back a bit more often and think a bit before we rush to face a problem...both in our own lives, our churches, our nation, and our world!
Sarah
I've experienced it time and again, even recently, as a pastor and as a person. Panic and anxiety are perhaps the greatest destructive force we know. It's why FDR's line speaks to us throughout time, "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." (From his First Inaugural Address)
And the truth is, we see this all the time. As I look back over the missteps in my life or ministry, I can almost universally say they were the result of panic. Of reacting to my own or others' fears without stepping back to take a deep breath. The irony always is that it's usually those whose own panic wratcheted up the system's anxiety that are the first and loudest to attack the system's response to it!
The key is finding ways to maintain relative calm in the face of challenges. That doesn't mean avoidance (we often call behavior like this passive-aggressive) but rather being able to be present but non-anxious.
These ideas have been skillfully drawn out by Rabbi Edwin Friedman in his writings, including Generation to Generation and A Failure of Nerve. Another favorite is Friedman's Fables--which I'm really hoping to lead a study of at church sometime soon.
Rabbi Friedman talks about how we live in a chronically-anxious society, and how this shapes us and all our interactions. He talks about this in the framework of family-systems theory, as he applies that lens not only to families but also to churches, businesses, governments, etc.
I could go on and on, but what has struck me here of late is how true this all is and has always been. It's a bit counter-intuitive. I mean, there's this natural tendency to tell ourselves there is a problem and we must fix it, and to feel an immediate time pressure to do so. But sometimes---perhaps far more often than we would like to admit---our rush to "fix" a problem simply exacerbates it.
May we all learn to take a step back a bit more often and think a bit before we rush to face a problem...both in our own lives, our churches, our nation, and our world!
Sarah
Monday, September 8, 2008
Changing Names (and other transitions)
So we returned from our honeymoon yesterday, and I've hit the ground running. As soon as Chris and I got back we headed to the Eagle Scout court of honor for one of the church youth, and after we got back and finally unpacked the car, I dived into e-mails. I get a bit ansy coming back to just get going. There's always an insane amount to catch up on, and that was certainly true since in addition to missing the three Sundays and two weeks I'd planned on, my sister's gall bladder surgery the week before it all really just threw me off kilter.
But I've been e-mailing, phone calling and such pretty furiously since early this morning, and though I'm still far from being caught up, I feel a bit like my feet might somehow get back under me some time this week...
I've also started looking into getting my name officially changed, and I'm anxious to just get that over with as well. So I may try to run to Hagerstown this afternoon to start working it out...boy it just takes a bit of focus!
It's strange (and I am told the strangeness will continue for a while at least) to get used to a new last name. At the court of honor, I was introduced 3 times in the course of the program, and each time it was a bit startling to remember that the Rev. Schlieckert they called was me! So yeah, it will be a strange adjustment.
I'm also, though trying to take advantage of this huge transition to look at other changes, like getting back into a good routine (I don't think I ever really hit my stride since returning from last year's mission trip), and really evaluating my priorities and how and who I am, naturally at least, as a pastor, and who I want to be. It's really easy to just get into a reactive mode, reacting to criticism or praise by avoiding or doing something someone wants, without really thinking through what's really happening. So I want to be more intentional about all that.
On top of all this, fall marks the return of conference meetings, etc., that always make my schedule a bit more hectic (and which always seem to be different days!). So hopefully this week I can get a handle on what's ahead this fall, and try to be proactive in setting up a schedule for the coming months...
...yeah, so I'm off to work on that...
:-) Sarah
But I've been e-mailing, phone calling and such pretty furiously since early this morning, and though I'm still far from being caught up, I feel a bit like my feet might somehow get back under me some time this week...
I've also started looking into getting my name officially changed, and I'm anxious to just get that over with as well. So I may try to run to Hagerstown this afternoon to start working it out...boy it just takes a bit of focus!
It's strange (and I am told the strangeness will continue for a while at least) to get used to a new last name. At the court of honor, I was introduced 3 times in the course of the program, and each time it was a bit startling to remember that the Rev. Schlieckert they called was me! So yeah, it will be a strange adjustment.
I'm also, though trying to take advantage of this huge transition to look at other changes, like getting back into a good routine (I don't think I ever really hit my stride since returning from last year's mission trip), and really evaluating my priorities and how and who I am, naturally at least, as a pastor, and who I want to be. It's really easy to just get into a reactive mode, reacting to criticism or praise by avoiding or doing something someone wants, without really thinking through what's really happening. So I want to be more intentional about all that.
On top of all this, fall marks the return of conference meetings, etc., that always make my schedule a bit more hectic (and which always seem to be different days!). So hopefully this week I can get a handle on what's ahead this fall, and try to be proactive in setting up a schedule for the coming months...
...yeah, so I'm off to work on that...
:-) Sarah
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