Boundaries and Burnout
Sitting in my recently restored quiet space, I saw my little flock of chickens pecking at the greens whose abundant leaves lean against the garden fence. They love the greens, and their beaks don’t reach very far. It’s a reasonable arrangement. A few days ago, however, the fence was left not-quite-closed and they got their whole heads in there and had stripped the foliage off of some of my best chard and kale before I knew what was happening! I was not a happy chicken owner!
I don’t mind sharing some of the garden produce with them; they contribute eggs, manure for future fertility, and reduced bug population; the problem is they don’t understand that eating everything in sight will result in starvation later. Boundaries must exist because understanding doesn’t.
The same is true with boundaries in my life. I do not understand what is truly good for me, therefore my loving Papa-God puts boundaries in place. If I ignore them, believing that I am somehow exempt from the limitations of others, or simply step over them in rebellion, there WILL be consequences.
Including burnout.
“You might be in danger of burnout if these things are true about you,” the man said.
Gulp.
Too many things on the list reflected my situation: fading motivation, reduced productivity, big anger over little things, self-medicating with work and food.
“I’d rather burn out than rust out!” I have often said, excusing my lack of sleep or over-full schedule, ignoring the principles of regular rest that were set in place by God himself before there was a law about it. This is not a new problem. I have lived my whole life with more on my to-do list than I could ever get done. Devotion to work/ministry was a hallmark of my growing-up family, but this gracious, gentle presenter, vulnerably telling his own story of burnout and healing, combined with the work the Holy Spirit had already been doing, has caused me to be more open about the need to allow myself to be gently led by the Good Shepherd to the places where my needs are met.
God is not pleased with burnt offerings.* He doesn’t want them, He certainly doesn’t need them, and there are a few places where He actually hates and rejects them. Especially when they are a substitute for actual heart-obedience! He calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices^ not burnt offerings!
Looking forward to being led to some green pastures!
Still following Jesus every day in the everyday,
Christi
*Psalm 51:16 ^Romans 12:1-2
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