Go Eagles!!!

Every football team gets three, 90 second timeouts per half.

"According to multiple studies, timeouts are more valuable than good field position late in a football game. Timeouts are also effective at "icing" the kicker and the proper use of timeouts on offense forces the defense to change strategy. Simply put, effective time management on the gridiron leads to wins." (Sportsrec.com)

Timeouts are the key ingredient to effective time management for the Care Pastor, or anyone, who primarily responds to needs. Those needs can wreak havoc with a planned schedule. Running from one need to the next is exhausting. Nobody can sustain that pace without something going catastrophically wrong.

A colleague and good friend in Care Ministry recently faced burnout. He was ready to quit. He is very capable and skilled, but the relentless demands of care ministry left him physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted.

GREAT IDEA!!!
After an extended sabbatical to preserve his calling, he implemented the "timeout" between appointments. Instead of a day filled with hospital visits, meetings, calls, emails, events and planning, back to back to back to back to back to back, he inserted brief timeouts of stillness, listening and calm, at least a few times per morning and afternoon. When possible, and it usually is, he will take a timeout between each activity and create space for inspiration and renewal for the nest task.

Peter Scazzero, who I often quote in Emotional Healthy Spirituality--Day by Day, recommends two minutes before and after prayer and devotional times, just to listen to God.

I adopted this pattern and also applied it to work. It helps me develop an ear for God's voice. That is energizing, refreshing, clarifying and empowering. 

Before I began reading background materials, looking at previous messages, and typing this blog post, I sit quietly for a couple minutes at my desk. After I am finished and before I hit "Publish Post", I will do the same.

Long, extended times of silence and stillness can be hard to come up with and, for most people, are not practical, at least not for frequent use.

But everyone can take a two-minute time out for stillness before and/or after an activity--not music, nor TV, driving or even walking, just stillness with listening and introspection.

The timeout in a football game gives the opportunity to adjust, call a play, do a cheer, refocus and win the game.

It can be a game changer for us too.

Try it now after you have read this blog post.

What you do matters too much for you to burn out and you want to keep working.  So that you can be there when you need to be and so you can continue to enjoy your work, call a timeout. Or take three timeouts in each half of your day.

Now, I'm going call a timeout to be prayerful, quiet, close my eyes and be still for a couple of minutes and then hit send.

I hope this post helps you care better than ever before, AND I hope it keeps you refreshed in your spirit, soul, mind and body so you are at 100% on each call and enjoy your calling!