Hitting the Wall

My wife and I use the phrase "I've hit my wall" whenever we feel exhausted or burned out or just plan old tired. I've learn from past Easter dramas that at some point each year I will "hit my wall" and need a break sometime during the preparation process. I don't like it, but I've learned to expect it. For the leadership of these type of ministries, we live and breath it for months. It's like a second job that you can never completely get on top of until it's over. Trying to reconcile three months of normal family life with work/ministry with a big production WILL catch up with you!

Generally I hit my wall after a couple of days of frustrating ministry work or family situations combined with several days worth of non-stop Easter drama attention while falling behind in regular day-to-day ministry responsibilities. Here's what I've learned to do:

*Spend extra time in the Word. That can be biblically-based music, scriptural-based books, etc. but do something that keeps God's Word in your mind.

*Don't be afraid to pass things along to support staff. My secretary has been a wonderful help and willing to shoulder loads of extra responsibilities during this time.

*Surround yourself with a GREAT Lead Team, and don't feel silly to say "Help!" to them. I sent my team a "Help!" email this week, and they have been wonderful in their willingness to help me through my "wall hitting" period.

*Don't feel responsible for being present at every aspect of each team's work. That's why you have team leaders; trust them to lead their teams and make their own decisions and do their tasks.

*Don't be worried about taking a break or breather here or there. No one can really understand the work load you've taken home with you each day of the last few months, or the late hours...and that's OK. God knows and you know. So take breaks when you can.

*Don't wait on a superior or supervisor to come to you and offer a break or a breather. They won't really be aware of your extra work load, and if you're a dependable person they'll trust you and want you to take care of yourself.

*Spend at least one day or afternoon doing something out of the ordinary from the last few months. Today, in between my daughter's early morning basketball game, a church member's 50th anniversary celebration, and getting things set up in the sanctuary for worship, I was able to get out in our yard for a couple of hours and begin de-winterizing it. Scooping dog poop and weeding flowerbeds works wonders for my disposition!

Tomorrow afternoon we begin the schedule for blocking individual scenes. Each scene has someone that will call all the extras and remind them of their schedule, and in these rehearsals I begin to adjust scripts and underscores to match exact timing and flow. For our church members who are extras or choir members, this begins an almost nightly attendance until the Easter drama is over. Many of our people will be at the church about 75% or more of the next 30 evenings, beginning tomorrow.