“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Anonymous
Thank you, “Anonymous” — because you have put words to exactly what I am doing and feeling. As a clergy life coach, I have the privilege of working with inspired, passionate leaders of faith who want to be even better leaders in their congregations and ministries. There is always something to do — sessions with clients, writing, reading, website, marketing, finances, follow up — and I love just about every bit of it. I genuinely feel as though I am living out God’s call for my life, in service to empowering people in ministry through the power of coaching.
And yet — one of the most common things I coach people around is balance and self-care.
Which makes what I’m about to confess particularly relevant.
The Wagon Train That Got There First
Clients are consistently amazed at how much more energy and creativity they have for the rest of their week when they actually take their Sabbath. It reminds me of a story from a wonderful book by Marva Dawn called Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting:
A wagon train was making its way from St. Louis to Oregon. Its members were devout Christians who observed the habit of stopping for the Sabbath. But winter was approaching, and some in the group began to panic that they wouldn’t reach their destination before the heavy snows. Several proposed abandoning their Sabbath practice. Eventually the group split — those who kept the Sabbath and those who chose to travel on that day.
Guess which group reached Oregon first?
The ones who kept the Sabbath. Both the people and the horses were so rested by their Sabbath observance that they traveled more vigorously and effectively the other six days of the week.
I think about that story often. And then I think about my own calendar.
The Eagle Center and the Knitting Bag
Not long ago, my husband wanted to take a drive to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. My honest first instinct was to think about the work I could be doing. Instead — I went. My daughter joined us. I pulled out my knitting, which I hadn’t done in far too long, and we had a genuinely lovely family outing.
Somewhere along that drive, with my knitting in my hands and the Mississippi River rolling past, I felt a depth of relaxation and joy I hadn’t felt in months. I found myself confessing to my husband and daughter that I needed to recommit to a real Sabbath. A don’t-need-to-accomplish-anything-today Sabbath. A spending-quality-time-with-family Sabbath. A put-down-the-phone-and-actually-rest Sabbath.
And then — as if God wanted to make sure I was paying attention — I had a session with a client shortly after. We were discussing how to block out a weekly schedule and I pulled out my own calendar as an example. The client looked at it, then looked at me, and asked: “When is your Sabbath?”
Physician, heal thyself.
A Commandment, Not a Suggestion
This is particularly tricky in ministry. We are doing God’s work — and so taking time for ourselves can feel selfish, indulgent, even unfaithful. I hear that from clients all the time. Ministry is not a nine-to-five job. There is a need for flexibility, for presence, for being available when people need you.
And also: God almighty rested on the seventh day. The creation did not fall apart. Surely we can take a day off without the world unraveling either.
What I can tell you from watching dozens of clients walk this path — and from my own ongoing, imperfect practice of it — is this: when pastors take genuine Sabbath time, they come back with more energy, more creativity, more passion, and more confidence. Every time. Without exception.
You were called to ministry, not martyrdom.
This is a commandment, not a recommendation. We are saved by grace, not productivity. So my confession today is simply this: I am still learning. I am still practicing. And I am inviting you to practice alongside me.
Put Sabbath-taking at the top of your priority list. Not at the bottom, where it gets bumped by everything else. At the top, where God put it.
If you’d like support in building a more balanced, sustainable, Sabbath-keeping ministry, I’d love to have that conversation with you.
Schedule an introductory conversation
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” — Exodus 20:8
Blessings on your Sabbath-keeping — and mine,
Barbara
