Maybe I’m an oddball, but today’s the Monday after Easter, and I’m a little depressed. Okay, maybe depressed is too clinical, but I feel like somebody let the air out of my tires, spiritually-speaking. Not that Easter Sunday wasn’t good — it was. We had a good crowd, right at 100, which for us is good, and great music. The sermon-thing went well, at least that’s what folks said, so I felt good about that yesterday.
But today, I’m tired. Not the kind of tired like digging-in-the-garden tired, which is an “I’ve accomplished something tired.” Just tired. Let down, you might say. I don’t know why, but there it is.
So today I’m taking it easy. I’m reading some stuff I’ve put off, and doing a little writing. I have found that there is a rhythm to my ministry, and I try to listen to that rhythm and get in sync with it now. Years ago I would just push through “low” points, but now I’ve learned to live in the lows as well as the highs of ministry. I figure if God made the tides, the flow of night-and-day, and the seasons of the year, there must be something to a rhythm of life. I’d be interested to know if any of you have similar experiences. Let me know as soon as you get up from your nap today.
ChuckWarnock.com 
In the Army, Easter is a little different. There are not enough pulpits for everybody to preach every Sunday. So I started the day at the Sunrise Service (I read the New Testament passage). Then, I went home to give my two year olds a bath. Then, I went to the 1100 service where I participate (Ipreach about every 6 weeks or so). This morning I said a prayer in the service. Then, back home.
Everytime I preach, I spend everything I have to got to get the sermon out. The next day, I’m so tired I can barely walk. The bigger the occasion the more pressure I put on myself, then the worse I feel on Monday. This was especially the case in Iraq–every sermon was critical, and I preached every week. Plush, I was tired from the other stuff to do during the week.
The biggest way I manage the ups and downs is through comic books and blogging about them. I don’t typically write about Religion or the Army because the blog is my time to step away from all of that, and comics are my escape. Make sure that you take time to find a diversion, or you’ll get buried.
I was curious about the comic book thing, and you’ve explained it beautifully. Everybody needs a release valve, a diversion, from what they do, no matter what it is. And you’re right, ministry is pressurized, some of which we bring on ourselves. Thanks, as always, for your comments.