Wellness in Ministry: Part Four - Mental Wellbeing through Time Wisdom

This post is taken from a presentation on Clergy Wellness that was cancelled due to Covid-19 lockdowns. Maybe I'll get to present it live one day, but in the meantime I decided to post some sections of it more widely. The series as whole is called Wellness in Ministry and naturally some aspects are specific to vocational ministry. However much is applicable to anyone concerned to sustain their wellbeing physically, mentally socially and spiritually. The first post was published in March 2022.

Time Wisdom

Last time we looked at Managing Stress. This post continues the theme of mental wellbeing and is largely reliant on the book Beyond Busyness  by Stephen Cherry - now Dean of Kings College, Cambridge. Though published in 2012, it is still desperately relevant for ministers trying to fulfil their calling with compassion and accountability in a complex society. Cherry points out that the Church in mission needs its public representatives to be credible witnesses to the whole Christian gospel. That involves personal faith, pastoral sensitivity, sincere care, and palpable prayerfulness but also effective administration, competent management and above all a relaxed acceptance of the pressures and strains of a life being lived by trust and hope. (Prelude) What a missional church does not need is people who come across as constantly hassled, anxious or busy. Of course we all have days like that. But ministry is different from secular leadership; it has different priorities and different rhythms. Good time management principles often do not work for clergy. 

Traditional Time Management works best for people whose priorities can be identified in advance, weighed against each other, and then worked on in a way that is reasonably uninterrupted by unexpected events. Cherry’s alternative notion of Time Wisdom is a good fit for people like us, living in a less-predictable environment, where it is important to be responsive to events and opportunities as they arise. That’s not to say that the context of ministry today is leisure interrupted by occasional pastoral responses. There are many things to do in order to make a difference in God’s way, and we must often engage in time-sensitive projects in the broader framework of our vocation. Time wisdom is for those who know that it is often the interruptions which are important, but who nonetheless do still have to get a lot done.

Cherry’s book is about how to survive, and possibly even thrive, in a Church where there is far more to be done than can be done. We have to embrace the reality that familiar methods are no longer practical and accustomed priorities have to be renegotiated. It’s not that time is too short, but that what is needed is “a frame of mind, and a set of attitudes, and actions that will allow us to be good and faithful ministers in the circumstances we daily face”. Cherry calls this “time wisdom,” The book is a treasure trove but for the moment let me just introduce three basic strategies and two other tools he has found useful in managing a full agenda. The two extra tools are a may-do list and a don’t-do list. We all have a Must-do list, but some of those things are really may do, for when we have opportunity. The Don’t do list is a conscious decision that you won’t be visiting that person or attending that meeting. It amazing the sense of freedom that moving something in the May Do or Don’t Do list brings. Jesus didn’t scurry around trying to meet every need. In fact, Mark 1:36–38 describes an incident when he said 'No' to needs his disciples brought to him. 

The three strategies are clumping, clearing and threading.

Clumping is organising your diary so you connect similar things together. You probably already do this geographically; when you’re in town you think, “what else should I do while I’m here?” Cherry points out that every time you shift tasks you use extra mental energy because our brain is more like an old TV with an antenna that needs aligning, than one with a remote control. You have to do some positioning and adjusting to tune in. So if you’re working on sermon prep, and your Bible study might be useful for that Girls' Brigade devotion you have to do this week, intersperse your exegesis with a few notes and ideas for the girls. 

Clearing is about setting aside enough time to get into a piece of work and make a real impression. Say you need to do some research about a new Youth Group curriculum, or an upcoming church anniversary. You know for yourself how long its likely to take, and whether you could get it done in one session. Cherry reckons for him such a project is effectively dealt with in two x two-hour sessions in the same week; your own rhythm may be different, but these kind of things do need dedicated time. He suggests you write “something “ in your diary for this time so that when an alternative comes up you can say "I’ve got something in my diary at that time"! 

Threading is for the more time-consuming projects like writing a book or a thesis, or restoring a historic church. Schedule time every week, even in widely-differing amounts, otherwise you end up responsible for their not being done; leaving it to chance will mean the job never gets the attention it requires. A little judicious clearing coupled with clumping and followed some intricate threading are vital tools if you need to deliver a substantial project. 

Nine tenths of wisdom is being wise in time.
Theodore Roosevelt 

It is a challenge to let go of the inner messages that encourage us to be busy every minute, or to serve until all needs are met. One way to do that is embracing rhythms, such as Sabbath – not just the traditional day of rest and recreation, but also the stop and breathe kind of mini-sabbaths that Peter Scazzero introduces in his fabulous series on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Scazzero explains that the contemplative practice of having a Rule - or trellis - to shape your day is a conscious way to attend to God in all of life. 

If you have a Rule of Life, - and I recommend you do - include in it all the commitments and responsibilities of your present life. Try to work with the natural rhythms embedded in nature, in family life or in your ministry context. We need to integrate work, rest and play in ways that are nourishing for us and others.  That's how we are flourish and maintain taha hinengaro. 

To Consider: What is your current "rule" or rhythm of work and responsibility? Is there enough space and rest in it? Or does too much discretion mean you don't get the things done that need doing? Why not clear yourself some time for a rule of life project? Think of how  you might helpfully implement the two extra lists or the three work-planning strategies in your current regime? 

Next Time:  Preserving Wellbeing through Supervision