First marathon I ever ran in I never completed, in fact I almost died. The more time ticks on the harder it is to remember the feelings and sensations going through my body, but what I do remember is this:
I’m passing the mile 23 sign of the Baltimore Marathon (2004), everything is a blur, lying down on the ground, telling people to get the explicit off of me and then nothing. Next memory is waking up in an ambulance screaming the Hail Mary.
Basically I was dehydrated, which surprised me because I thought I had done a good job keeping up the fluids; however, I was more prone to dehydration because the 48 hours leading up to the race I was battling a severe cold. That’s smart, right? Most people would say, “Why would you run if you were feeling sick?” Honestly, I had given a year of my life to train for this race, a lot of emotion and I felt that this race would release years of baggage that I was carrying about myself so I ignored it even though I knew the consequences could be bad. I probably just didn’t know how bad.
When it comes to ministry there are habits and situation that if we ignore will not only make us fall short of our goals but be our ultimate downfall. Sometimes we feel so much responsibility that we ignore the problems that surround us instead of facing them dead on, such as:
I’m blessed because my job has helped me find professional and spiritual coaches. By having these people in my life I’m held accountable to examine areas in my life that can be easily ignored. I sometimes wish I was smarter with my running, but I know if you ignore a problem, if you focus on your pride it’s end you. If you find yourself on a path to burnout, destruction or maybe just a little frustration I would suggest finding accountability in a small group, mentorship or counseling. Find someone to advise you and pray with you so that you don’t find yourself falling apart.
What are other areas in church ministry that should not be ignored? And how do you address them?