Valley of Burnout: We're not alone

Friday, February 11, 2005

We're not alone

Since I’ve been off I’ve been so desperate to find out about the whole burnout thing – basically just to know that I’m not alone and that there are others who know what it’s like. I guess it reflects that innate need from deep within us – we have to reach out to others because we were meant to live in a network of relationships and experience a sense of community. It is true that ‘no man is an island’, though there have been many times when I have tried to live/prove otherwise...to my loss. Actually there isn't a huge amount of information out there in terms of Christian resources - the church is possibly influenced too much by the 'Messiah Complex'. However I came across a great article the other day on stress and burnout in youth ministry. I don’t completely agree with everything, but it’s fairly spot on for those who want to understand more, it may be quite helpful. And I'm also trying to update my links etc so that this site isn't just for my own personal therapy!

Onwards & upwards!

2 Comments:

At 6:41 pm, Unknown said...: Feeding your forgotten soul by Paul Borthwick doesn't happen to belong to me does it? I've lost my copy for quite sometime now....
At 11:15 am, Debs Erwin said...: I'm innocent on that one! ;0)

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After 4 years of youth ministry, in October '04 I realised that I had completely burnt myself out. I went off work on sick leave with stress...this is my journey through that valley...

: Name: Debs Erwin; Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Youth Work Manager at Public Achievement, Northern Ireland, where I co-ordinate the Away from Violence programme.

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To be commanded to love God at all, let alone in the wilderness, is like being commanded to be well when we are sick, to sing for joy when we are dying of thirst, to run when our legs are broken. But this is the first and great commandment nonetheless. Even in the wilderness, especially in the wilderness, you shall love him.
- Frederick Buechner

Where there is no longer any opportunity for doubt, there is no longer any opportunity for faith either.
- Paul Tournier

We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them.
- Charles West

We must cast off our false, exterior self like the cheap and showy garment that it is. We must find our real self in its very great and very simple dignity: created to be a child of God, and capable of loving with something of God's own sincerity.
- Thomas Merton

Everything difficult indicates something more than our theory of life yet embraces.
- George MacDonald