Sharpening the Blade

by

I once heard a fable about a woodsman who was trying to cut down a tree with a saw that had a dull blade. The man was struggling hard as the saw was not able to penetrate the fibers of wood. A passerby ask the man why he didn't simply stop and sharpen the blade on the saw. The woodsman replied that he was too busy sawing.

This is the case with us many times when we are busy serving the Lord, especially during times of great stress that we are experiencing now with the coronavirus pandemic. Pastors and church leaders are suddenly adjusting to a whole new way of doing ministry. For some it is a steep learning curve of using new technology, which requires additional hours of preparation.

In addition, people are becoming ill, being hospitalized and dying; and pastors do not have the usual ways of comforting and helping at their disposal. Visiting home-bound people and hospitals has become prohibitive. Funerals and weddings are being postponed. Holy Week and Easter was meaningful and joyful in many ways, but services have required additional thought and preparation.

In the Word of God we read, "Then Jesus said, 'Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.' He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat." (Mark 6:31, New Living Translation) There is a message for us here.

Rest, rejuvenation and Sabbath are essential Christian disciplines, and they should be no less a part of our life as a church now, during this time of turbulence and readjustment. Pastors and lay people do their best ministry and thinking when they take time to rest in order to "sharpen their blade." 

 I would like to request the following: I ask that the Staff Parish Relations Committees, lay leaders and pastors at each church have conversation about what self-care looks like and what pastors, their families, and church leaders need during this time. Please hold a conference call or a ZOOM meeting to discuss this. Some ideas include: getting away from work for a short time, pulpit coverage for a Sunday, and being diligent about taking weekly days off. This is all part of our call to "watch over one another in love," which was the mantra of the early Methodist class meetings. It is no less important today.

May God continue to use you in healing and helpful ways as you minister to your church family, to the community and to the world. Reports of increased internet outreach, exemplary stewardship, relief for the poor, and creative worship experiences are coming from our churches in great numbers. I extend my deepest appreciation to all for these vital ministries.

We also need to be gearing up our strength for the time when we will make careful preparations to gather again. The timing for that has not been determined, yet, and we will strictly follow the instructions of our elected state officials. Include rest, self-care and "sharpening your blade" as part of your ministry plans, and there will be even more that we can accomplish in the name of the Lord in the months and years to come. I hold you constantly in my prayers.

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson serves as resident episcopal leader of the Philadelphia Area of The United Methodist Church, which covers the Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware conferences. This post is republished with permission from an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference newsletter.