Comments on: Stretched

By: Toby

Toby — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 05:16:08 +0000

I’m stretched thin now too Shaun. My GM just resigned @ work, and I am now acting GM. Add to that a full time course load for Grad school, ministry responsibilities for the BSM, being dad to 3 great girls and husband to one fantastic woman (who is also stretched thin) and the result is getting in from work @ 3:30am, asleep @ 5, up by 9, pulpit supply @ 11am, interviewing @ work @ 2:30, family time with the inlaws until 9pm and now burning the midnight oil to prepare for class tomorrow. I think I might have to drop a plate.

By: Anon

Anon — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:09:07 +0000

Well, when I’m stretched thin, I usually end up crying… perhaps that’s because I’m a very emotional female though. Usually after a great deal of drying my eyes, I get back to the basics--back to reading and praying and letting off of the stress-inducing activities a little. Talk about it, let it out, organizing the little things can help a lot too. If all else fails, laugh… it seems to get my niece by ^_^

Anon

By: Noelle

Noelle — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:57:54 +0000

I think it’s crazy how Jesus knew how much we do this to ourselves, how He told us to come away with Him. Since I started working in ministry full-time, there have been days where I’ve had to stop everything and be “irresponsible” to the world… and it was lovely.

By: Grovesfan

Grovesfan — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:13:36 +0000

Breakdown and then email my good friends who pull me through.

Beth

By: Nancy Tyler

Nancy Tyler — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:25:51 +0000

oops...my unfinished post got submitted instead of previewed. Here’s the rest of the post:

3. Not burning the midnight oil. Sleep. Not going to bed when I’m spent yields a shorter attention span, a shorter temper, a larger appetite for junk food, higher anxiety and poorer quality work from me.

4. Admitting my humanity.
Request a deadline extension. Take a break from or cut back on a regular though not required responsibility (though that’s hard for me because I keep thinking I can do it all). Or just say no flat out to a wonderful opportunity for the sake of my own sanity and health, even if it’s disappointing to me or someone else.

I’m still learning, but when I do them, these four things seem to help control my “I can do it all if it kills me and it just might” nature.

By: Paul J.

Paul J. — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:16:36 +0000

A brave post. Nothing like opening yourself up to suggestions from a few thousand people.

Shaun, there was one big reason I left the road: I was missing too much life of my children. There were plenty of other reasons, but I could have dealt with any of those, really. But I just couldn’t let any more growing-up time pass by.

So, I guess what I’m saying is…to me, everything you mentioned is negotiable except your kids. You can’t get another chance on that time. And you won’t ever, ever regret getting MORE time with your kids.

Just my two cents.

By: Bapster

Bapster — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:06:17 +0000

What do I do when stretched thin, you ask.

I try and remember to take comfort in God’s word, (not always easy when your feeling this way).

I especially like,
2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Our God is a God of all Comfort.

When other are feeling this way I recall the next vs. which tells me that this comfort is transferable.

2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Shaun, your words, (I may not always agree, but they inspire me to challenge my own thoughts) and your compassion both inspire and keep one out of the ruts on the side of the road. Thank you.

By: Nancy Tyler

Nancy Tyler — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:04:36 +0000

I come at life like a hungry kid at the buffet table--piling up a dish full of so many good things that I end up having trouble cleaning my plate in the end.

Here are four things that I’ve been learning to come back from overwhelm and to keep myself from crashing again in the future:

1. Setting aside more time for praying, reading the Bible and journaling in the middle of the storm.
The more I try to be superwoman, the needier I realize I am for God’s strength and perspective. The less time I think I have to spend with Him, the more I need to do it.

2. Giving myself permission to say “no” or “later” when people need help with projects.
A large part of the ministry I’m doing these days is helping people with PR, writing, voiceover and career planning projects. This has been more of an evolution than a conscious decision. And when things evolve rather than being planned, there aren’t really systems for managing workload. People had come to expect that whenever they sent me something out of the blue to edit or rewrite or record, that I’d always be available to do it for them immediately. But I can’t do that anymore, so I’ve had to tell people “sorry, can’t help tonight. But I can Monday.” I love being asked to help and I’d never want to discourage people from asking. I just need to be the one who controls my schedule and rule over it rather than it ruling over me. I’m still learning how to do this.

3. Not burning the midnight oil. Sleep. Not going to bed when I’m

By: brody

brody — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 09:21:02 +0000

Are you feeling that way right now?

Ummmm… yeah

By: Shawn Bashor

Shawn Bashor — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:50:45 +0000

Hearing this I guess I feel reallly honored I was able to hangout with you for a little bit last week. When I get like this I procrastinate, which by the way, in the end makes matters way worse. I cannot imagine the pressure you have. I dont have all that much.