The (Holy) Hangover

A catchy phrase those in the ministry like to use after a good service, ministry breakthrough, church event, is having a “holy hangover”. You might see it more often during this time of year after the Easter holiday. Definitions on what it exactly means depends on who you ask…

It is generally described as the feeling of being “wiped out” physically and mentally, mixed in with an ounce of euphoria. A bit different from the worldly definition as it has nothing to do with alcohol (unless you prefer to use wine with the Lord’s Supper, of course).

Today was another whirlwind Monday where I felt the effects (exhaustion & joy) from teaching and hanging out with our church youth on a spiritual retreat to the mountains, in addition to our wonderful Easter service, water baptisms, and family picnic from the previous weekend. A lot of “good stuff” that I’m proud of and excited about what the Lord has done!

Of course it’s like a hangover because I don’t have time to “recover” as Mondays are… well… Mondays: full of errands, meetings, and tasks to be dealt with just like any other job. That’s why you’ll often see me on Monday mornings at my “office”, otherwise known as the local coffee shop, the Midnight Rooster, in order to take my medicine in the form of a highly caffeinated beverage. (For you super-spiritual folks out there, please note I find true restoration in Christ!)

The question is this: “How does this all affect me?”

If it takes on the shape of a real hangover, it can be full of headaches, regrets, nausea, and the like… all “bad stuff”, no doubt. That’s when “burnout” (a ministry term for “I’m losing my sanity, patience, and interest”) can occur if I let it! This happens far too often when the work of the ministry loses its focus and transforms from a passion and a calling, to a burden and a disease.

Instead, this hangover can be seen as a good thing… it is a sign that work was done! Something happened! And it is processed in a healthy way because I keep things in perspective: God is doing AWESOME things with TLC and while I’m the Lead Pastor, I play a small part in it all! That may sound absolutely crazy to some, but the more we realize the work of the ministry is far more dependent on God than us, the healthier we will be!

Not only that, but those in full-time ministry have the honor and privilege of observing front-and-center the “fruit” (a Christian word for “results”) of the work of God’s hands (contrary to the work of our hands!). If it was left up to us mere humans to change hearts and minds, what a screwed-up world we’d have to live in! It’s truly a blessing to know that people are being touched, lives are being changed, and our Almighty God has used little ol’ me as a vessel for His redeeming love/grace/mercy!

So while I take my coffee bold to awake my senses as I start the week, nothing is stronger than knowing the true purpose of ministry and realizing that the church is here for a reason… not for pastors to have a place to toil and be miserable under the foot of a deacon board, but to be that hospital for the sick in spirit; finding remedy in a relationship with Jesus Christ!

In Mark 2:17, Jesus says: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Folks, that’s what we live for! That’s what I work for! There is more than half of my city that fails to see the church as the place to “get well”! (We need to do something about that!)

As long as I’m able to have a role in helping to heal new “patients”, this “holy hangover” is welcomed!