#failedpastor Part Three - I failed to see what was coming…

We knew something was wrong for a while.

Maybe a few years before we stoped.

But we just couldn’t figure out what it was and why we felt that way.

So we talked about it at a leadership level.

We invited other leaders in to review things.

And we still couldn’t pinpoint the problem….

Essentially the experts told me everything was fine and to keep going because “the best was yet to come”.

Years removed we think have a better idea.

The problem was hidden behind my problem.

Being nice, overworked, exhausted and burned out clouded my vision and ability to see clearly behind the scenes.

Our Church was told the truth that was palatable for us all in that season.

Yes we were done and our tanks empty.

But the other side of the truth coin was we had a major church split.

What is that you might ask?

Where your key leaders and teams decide to leave, many times orchestrating a behind the scenes process that damages you and the faith family you helped build. And many times to launch something else with a different leader.

Sometimes it is framed in flowery religious terms, but division is the outcome and pain the guaranteed result.

We felt betrayed. Cut down. 

And when you add that to burnout, it is near impossible to recover from that position.

So we waved our white flag a withdrew as quietly as we could.

What did I learn from this?

What can you learn from this?

If I had handled my workload, had a better leadership practice, then maybe I could have seen what was coming and made changes.

Because I wasn’t in a good place, I wasn’t good enough in the moment to lead the way that was needed.

As leaders you have a responsibility to the people under you care.

But you also have a responsibility to yourself. To your family. And your relationship to God.

We all acknowledge that the relationship value order is like I have mentioned.

In practice, for many of us, including myself, the opposite becomes our reality over time.

The pressure to succeed that we place on ourselves and the weight of expectation can build.

Can I encourage to be the opposite of me?

- Look after yourself.

- Maybe have a supervisory counsellor you meet with everything single month.

- Plan breaks before busyness.

- Be honest with those you can truly trust.

Leaders we need you to make it. 

To be faithful, fulfilled and still following the call well.

I am praying for you!

Something to think about…