Can I be honest with you all? Some days in this job, part of me wants to look over my shoulder for the grown-up in charge. I’m mostly joking, but it does still feel a little surreal to be here. This week I sat down to plan worship for Advent and realized my first full year at Calvary is almost over. Christmas will be here before we know it. I’m still learning so much from all of you, and I am so grateful to be your pastor.
It’s also a full season. Stewardship is upon us, the Bazaar is coming up, and our Love Offering and new Rough Sleepers study are just around the corner. Advent has been on the whiteboard since we filled it out in August, and all the events that go with it are close behind. That’s before I get to my kids, my students, and my dog, who would like you to know he has been neglected. I suspect a lot of you are feeling it too. Fall has a way of filling every square on the calendar.
So, today someone asked me, “How is your spiritual life?” It’s John Wesley’s old question, the one the early Methodists asked each other every week: how is it with your soul? And I had to laugh and say, “Well, I feel called out.”
Because the truth is, I’ve been doing a pretty poor job of taking care of my own spiritual life. I spend my days planning prayers for other people and somehow forget to pray for myself. I’d guess I’m not the only one.
Being overwhelmed isn’t a sign that something is wrong with us. Usually it means we love a lot of people and a lot of things. But a full life still needs tending, and our faith gives us some simple ways to do that. None of them take much time. Here are a few I’m trying to come back to, and I’d love for you to try one with me.
Breath prayer. Pick a short phrase and pray it with your breathing. Breathe in “Be still,” breathe out “and know.” You can do it at a red light, in the carpool line, or before a meeting you’re dreading.
A look back at the end of the day. Before bed, ask two questions. Where did I notice God today? Where did I miss God? No grading, just noticing.
A little Sabbath. If a whole day off feels impossible, start with an hour. One evening without the laptop. One walk without the phone. Rest is a gift God gave us on purpose.
Gratitude before email. Name three things you’re thankful for before you open your inbox. It changes the tone of the whole morning.
Ask someone the question. How is it with your soul? Ask a friend, a spouse, someone in your Sunday school class. And then really listen to the answer.
I’m also taking my own advice. Next weekend I’ll be stepping away for a little rest while you all celebrate Laity Sunday. Karen Gebhart and David Cline will be leading worship, and I am so grateful for their leadership and their willingness to serve. I can’t wait to hear how it goes.
Laity Sunday is a good reminder of something I see every single week. Our Methodist system could not function without the lay leaders and volunteers who keep everything moving. Fred Schumacher and our Trustees, Rick Miller and our Finance Committee, Beth Strakonsky and our SPRC, and every person who serves on those committees give hours most of us never see. The same is true of our staff: Jenn, Amy, Cathy, Paul, Sharon, Patty, Olivia, Cathleen, Joyce, and so many others. None of us does this alone, and that might be the best cure for feeling overwhelmed. We were never meant to carry it all by ourselves.
As we head into stewardship season, we’ll be talking a lot about how we give. But stewardship isn’t only about money. It’s about how we care for our time, our energy, and our souls, too. A church full of people who are tending their souls is a church ready to grow.
So, this week, let me ask you. How is it with your soul?
Until Sunday, and all the days between, Dr. Hutton
