The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18
During last month’s Convocation & Pastors’ School at Duke, the potted mums above caused me to pause for a moment in a hallway I often walked along during my seminary journey. Someone had placed the two pots along the hallway, their brilliant color brightening the glass and polished grey-white floors. The contrast of the majestic windows framing the mums announced the fall season and brought a quiet joy to those passing by.
As I stood there, I remembered walking that same hallway years ago under the weight of coursework—worrying about classes, readings, papers, and exams. I wondered then if I had the stamina to persevere through it all, or how I would ever finish those stacks of books. Yet I also remembered the faculty and staff who challenged and encouraged me, the wisdom pressed into me, and those many appointments at the Writing Center that helped me sharpen my attempts at completing the written work.
I also recalled walking those halls in prayer—quiet, sometimes desperate prayers for grace, love, and mercy as I tried to be the husband, father, and student pastor I longed to be. God absolutely and always answered.
Moments like that remind me how important it is to tend not only to our work, but also to our souls. During our daily journeys, how good it is to be interrupted by the beauty of God’s creation—to absorb that moment, to remember, to offer praise and thanks, and to lift one another to God in prayer.
As we enter November and our clergy and staff/pastor-parish committees take time to complete ministry assessments, I offer a resource that might help us reflect on our own well-being. In a recent conversation with Dr. Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell, Director of the Duke Clergy Health Initiative, I was reminded of a valuable tool: Fully Alive, written by Rev. Jessie Larkins.
This brief resource helps clergy assess positive mental health, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and burnout. It also points us toward four key behaviors of flourishing clergy:
- Set aside some personal time every day.
- Have a well-being practice that you really keep to.
- Share your good news with others and have some social support.
- When criticized or wondering how to spend your time, remind yourself what God is asking you to do in this season.
I especially recommend page 12 (below) of Fully Alive, which includes a positive mental health assessment developed by sociologist Corey Keyes of Emory University.
As you go about your week, may you find your own “potted mums” along the way—small moments of color, grace, and gratitude that remind you of God’s nearness.
Blessings,
David