Being a tech director for a church or ministry can often be one of the most challenging things that you have ever faced. There are constant demands. Holidays that have to be planned for. And weekends that come around with surprising regularity. It is very easy to feel tossed and turned like the waves in the ocean.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Have you ever swum in the ocean? I live on the East Coast, so swimming in the ocean is a pretty common thing for us. However, for the uninitiated it can be a rather daunting task. It is nothing like swimming in a swimming pool or a lake where the water is smooth and flat.
I remember being young and trying to swim in the sea. I quickly discovered that there are two ways to do it: One is to swim with it and the other is to swim against it. If you swim against the waves and currents you likely won't get anywhere and you will likely run out of energy fast. You can even end up getting dashed into the ground -- or much worse.
However, if you start to swim with the waves, you will find that you can make progress with much less effort. Instead of trying to fight the waves and the currents, you begin to use them to help you and to propel you forward.
Life in tech ministry is much like this. If you try to fight again the natural ebb and flow of the seasons of your church calendar it can end up spitting you out, angry and disillusioned. If, instead, you learn to work with the tides and currents of ministry, you will always be refreshed and energetic for all you have to do.
There is a misconception that busyness and constant stress are virtues. They are not. Jesus does not desire for us to be burnt-out all of the time. He wants us to have His rest.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
What does rest look like?
Here are a few practical ways for you to make sure you regenerate yourself and stay fresh for the big events and times when you need to be on the top of your game.
Look at the calendar
Before you go much further you should take a look at all of the big events on the church calendar. It is important to see the times and dates that you absolutely can't miss. Don't' be like that tech guy I once worked with who never wanted to work on our Christmas and Easter services. Those are our game days! You can't miss the big ones.
Have a hobby
For many years in ministry I neglected having a hobby, thinking that it was a waste of time. But everyone needs something that they enjoy and that rejuvenates them. At this moment my hobby is flyfishing, and although I'm admittedly not that good, I try to get out once a week and scare the fish away.
Go to nature
When you have a particularly difficult few days or week, try to get out in nature a bit. I have found that God will often speak to me more readily when I can get away from the hustle and bustle of life. There is something rejuvenating about being out in Creation talking to the Creator.
Vacate
Although sometimes we can feel guilty for taking a vacation, you really should take one. In fact, you should use up all of the vacation time that you are allowed. This time is given to you so that you can relax and rest and come back ready to go. For many years I thought I was doing the church a favor by not using up all of my vacation. In fact, I was doing them a disservice because I was wearing myself thin and I lived in a near-constant state of semi-burn out.
Resting is actually a learned ability. My mind is always active, so I have learned to keep a notebook (or Evernote) with me so that when my mind starts racing with things to do, I can just jot it down and forget about it -- and continue resting.
In the end, when you take the time to understand the tides and currents of ministry, you will find your work far more rewarding and your efforts more effective than ever.
