Exposed

One of the reasons I don't like to go to the gym and workout is because parts of me are exposed that I think should remain hidden. You know what I mean. Next to me on the treadmill is someone in a cute workout tank and shorts running at full speed. On the other side is muscle man pumping iron and there I am in my painting shorts and mismatched top left over from the last VBS showing the world my lack of muscles, exposing white skin that hasn't seen enough sun and announcing to the world that I am not a serious exerciser.

That kind of exposure that lends itself to comparison with or by others frightens me. How many of you have had the dream, no - nightmare, of preaching naked? Often times we feel overexposed and open to criticism. So we protect ourselves or keep ourselves from fully exercising our muscles in front of an audience. And we know I'm not talking about clothing here. Although some would argue that wearing a robe is a way we hide out, but I'm not going there today.

On a recent retreat we were asked to look at how we guard our internal selves, our backstage persona, from our external or on stage self. It generated a great deal of discussion as we struggled with how to exercise those internal selves, expose them to the light and deal with the scrutiny it brings. If we constantly hide that part of us, how does it grow, develop and be transformed into strength and not just atrophy? How do we differentiate between what is truly private and not for any eyes but God's and what will bring us to a new level of authenticity? Who is in our lives who will help us discern and dispense what needs to be shared? How does what we keep from our on stage presence hinder our ability to use our gifts, serve God and be a transformational agent in the church?

What is exposed when you work out?

Silence CAN be Golden

Speaking the truth in love today I'd like to get up close and personal and ask a very uncomfortable question. When do we as pastors need to be silent or "Are you doing too much talking and not listening to what your people are saying or needing to say?"

I'm not talking about those folks who need to complain to us or about us. I'm not talking about being silent when a theological error needs to be corrected or accountability needs to be discussed. I'm talking about letting your folks dream, discuss, and even determine what it is that best suits their energy level or what they see as an energy drainer.

I did a workshop recently on Church Health and it was attended by clergy and lay from a variety of churches. NOTE to self: This may not be a good combination! As I put them into their church groups to discuss the energy drainers in their congregation, I heard more than one pastor poo-poo (that's a good theological word, isn't it) what their folks were saying. I heard things like "well, in comparison to other churches, that isn't a big problem here" or "I don't think that really drains our energy because...".

I didn't remain silent and asked that the pastors listen without comparison or comment. It seemed to be hard for pastoral leaders to sit back and listen without feeling the need to fix it, take it on, or challenge what we are hearing. And it is ok to ask our folks to talk without any expectations that we will have a solution or will take on their project. This can free us from the perception that we have to act on every idea or concern that is put in front of us.

When do you step in and try to correct or influence 'feelings', ideas, dreams, concerns and miss what your folks are trying to tell you about the state of their energy, mind, heart or soul?

Energy Leaks

As the leaves change and the temperature begins to dip near freezing, we are reminded to do an energy audit or assessment of our homes to see where we might be leaking energy. When we find places where the windows aren't sealed tight or the roof might be letting out valuable heat, we fix them to save energy and money.

What about in the church? What about in you? Where are the energy leaks? We've talked about making a list of the things that drain your energy and to eliminate as many of those as you can or to at least have more energy boosters than drainers on any given day. However, there is another place where our energy tends to get drained or leaks out. And that is when we are over extended, over focused on too many things at any given time and over functioning.

Here's the best way I've found to do a quick energy leak check: Where are you doing things/tasks or taking on responsibilities that others can do for themselves? It's a tougher question than you might think. In order to answer it truthfully and honestly, we have to stop and think about everything we do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Are there things you are doing just because it is easier for you to do them? Are there things you do because you know you can do them better? Are there things you are doing so that others will think more highly of you or feel you are indispensable? Are there things you are doing in order to be liked?

Chances are in one of those answers is a key to an energy leak. Doing for others what they can do for themselves does not encourage health or wellness in yourself or others. It is analgous to spoiling our children and not letting them learn for themselves. Overfunctioning on your part means that others are underfunctioning. Performing for strokes and kudos turns you into an actor rather than authentic human being.

Where are you leaking energy? How can you stop the leaks and become more energy efficient? Being more energy efficient keeps the heat in, the cost down and the output balanced.

When the Arms Go Up

There is another aspect of the 'core' muscles I want to explore in terms of how it relates to the church and that is "when the arms go up, the core engages." My fitness trainer says it all the time. So that when I'm doing an exercise even as simple as walking the instruction is to get my arms up over my head. By doing so I'm engaging those core muscles and hence strengthening them. Voila! Two for one so to speak.

This blog has talked previously about those core muscles and the importance of paying attention to that core - Jesus Christ. As I thought about her instruction an image came to mind. When our arms go up, either in praise or surrender, we are engaging our core - our connection to Jesus.

Now I know a lot of mainline churches aren't big on lifting their arms up in praise so this concept might not be as enlightening as it could be for them. But think of it...When we lift our arms up in praise, we are not only exposing ourselves to ridicule from other members we are also exposing our core - heart, lung, abdomen; thus making ourselves very vulnerable to God and others. What would happen if members of churches became more vulnerable to their peers and to their God? Seems to me the core would definitely be engaged in new ways.

The other image that came to mind as I thought about lifting up my arms is the stance of 'surrender'. Hands over the head is a universal sign of surrender. In this day and age of technology, medical advances and business gurus at our fingertips, how much do we really surrender to God's care and providence? Most churches only try to accomplish what they know they can do successfully. It's hard to convince people to take big risks, to step out in faith, to surrender their ego's and abilities to God's lead.

When the arms go up, the core engages in more ways then we can imagine. What does it take to get your church's arms up to praise, surrender and be fully engaged with God?