Tag: self care

Self care

Self care means setting boundaries so that people don’t abuse you

It means saying no

It means tearing down the structures that don’t serve people

Jesus knew about self care

Jesus would have torn up the ordination test into pieces

He would have held the traumatized and told them their gifts were worthy of the church

Jesus would say this does not need an overture, he would have healed the wounds immediately

Jesus would have listened to those arguing for order and structure and tradition and asked, patiently, with compassion: where do you hurt?

Jesus would have said well done good and faithful servants to the committees who put in 3 years of work, and then dismissed them to do other things, not to worry that everything would be changed

Jesus would then sit and tell people the beautiful story of the kin(g)dom; where peace is everlasting, everyone has food and shelter and healthcare, no one argues over the color of the carpet, and violence is unnecessary

And the children will play

And everyone will have access to their counselors, their comfort books, movies and music

Before they snuggle up and sleep safe and warm.

Because pain is not holy, trauma is not holy

But healing and love and access to the means to do so…that is

Stealing Time

God, remind me to steal some time.

To look at the clouds

to be bored

to take the scenic route…

Tell me how it is ok if the house is messier than I’d like, that it’s good to claim the smaller victories of keeping everyone fed and (at least starting out) in clean clothes…

Remind me that Jesus stole time all the time!

Napping in the storm, snuggling a fig tree, sneaking off to a lake

When you lead me beside the (sort of) still waters of a small lake beach on a stolen afternoon, help me to embrace the experience.

When the power or internet is out and I’m forced to relax…

If the best I can muster in thought is half written sentences…

When time is given, as a gift, remind me that it isn’t stolen.

Remind me that Holy Spirit herself might be intervening.

Whisper to me that I am beloved. And that my worth is not based upon my productivity.

    Image: Your Work is Not Measured by your Productivity

    I’ll never forget my first year in full time ministry when there was a snowstorm every single Wednesday of November, forcing me to slowdown.

    Sometimes, I need that reminder God.

    And if I need to take the longer way to Jerusalem, if I need to mull and mutter and forge out some time to relax before I do the next hard thing, that is okay.

    Remind me, God, that you built me, and all humans to be this way.

    And that Jesus knew full well that breaks for food, laughter with friends, and time with family are essential to our humanity, and Jesus was indeed fully human.

    Rest is essential, Sabbath is commanded, time is precious–let me live these truths in whatever way I can, I pray.

    Amen

    Image of Tweet Robin Thede: We all need to expect about forty percent less productivity from each other than normal and yet somehow everyone seems to expect one hundred and forty percent right now. Working at Proffitting WAP: Chile, they are thinking because we are working reotely that we do not nothing but time since we are sitting at home. However that push for productive is affecting our mental health because there’s no boundaries to decompress

    Many thanks to the continuing inspiration of the Nap Ministry: https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/ (who you can also follow on twitter)

    Feel free to use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

    More Pandemic Prayers and Resources: Top Posts are “In an Abundance of Caution” “The Lord is My Shepherd: What kind of Sheep are You” and “Masks: A Prayer”