How not to do it....

Lately I've been looking back at my ministry history of the past few years. I've discovered that it reads like a "How Not To Do Things if You Want to Stay Sane"...

• While studying full-time, take on a one day a week ministry job. "One day a week" = you do as much as the most committed volunteer, and then add the "one day" of paid stuff on top. Constantly be evaluated as "not quite up to snuff" because you should be "earning your money".
• While doing all the above, take on a voluntary position within the college that gives you pastoral oversight of other college students and administrative duties.
• After leaving college, get a full-time job (not in ministry). Then take on an extra one day a week ministry job on top of that (see requirements, above). Use your work overtime (i.e. time in lieu) to run bible studies.
• Get married
• Resign from the one day a week job, then continue to do exactly the same things you previously were doing but without the payment for it. Spend your one day off a month writing sermons.
• Instead of taking a holiday, change jobs and buy a house. Start work in a position that requires 120km a day commute. Spend your one day off a month writing sermons and youth group studies.

It wasn't until recently that I realised what a bad pattern this is to set. We were wondering how we managed to go for about two months without a day off, and then realized that we'd been doing this sort of thing since the beginning. I wish I'd learned earlier that it's ok to have a rest every now and then...