Compassion

Tis the season for compassion overload! In the course of the next four weeks, pastors will find themselves on the receiving end of one request after another. Do these sound familiar?

"There is an extra family that needs gifts and a tree than we planned for, what can we do, pastor?" "One of the kings in the pageant just got sick and needs a ride home, can you help out pastor?" "Pastor, you don't know me but my family and I just moved into town and we need a place to live." Pastor, I know it is your day off but Mary was just taken to the hospital with what looks like a miscarriage. She needs you." "I need your article for the January newsletter a week before Christmas this year." "The funeral home just called and they have an unchurched family who needs a pastor." "Honey, when are we going to decorate our home for Christmas?

Familiar? Yes. Part of the job description? Yes. Compassion needed and shared? Yes. We are called to offer compassion to those whom we shepherd and serve and we do it without thought to our own needs. And by the end of this Advent season most pastors are exhausted with and by compassion overload.

What if during this Advent season you applied the same kind of compassion you will share with others to yourself? Notice I didn't say instead of? Think of yourself, your soul, as being connected to all the souls you will interact with and serve this season. Keeping your soul healthy and whole - compassionately caring for it - will directly contribute to the health and well being of the souls around you.

What would it look like for you to be compassionate toward yourself? What would it feel like? How would it benefit your congregation? How would it benefit the world? For you see in deep and lasting ways when we heal ourselves, we heal the world and that is what shalom is all about.