You Cannot Do it Alone - May 2
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 25; PM Psalm 9, 15; Exod. 18:13-27; 1 Pet. 5:1-14; Matt. (1:1-17),3:1-6
Can we bring you dinner? This is often what a church community or a friendship offers when we don’t know what else to do, and paradoxically, what many others have offered in my own life, when things have been busy and full or challenging. Sometimes the answer is a resounding yes, that would be lovely, and more often than not, there is this smidgen of guilt. “No, I couldn’t possibly put someone else out or inconvenience you.”
Today’s first lesson is a classic commentary on leadership. Moses has been handling the affairs of his entire community, so much so that his father-in-law is concerned. “What you are doing is not good” says his father-in-law. He is concerned about burnout, about the weight that Moses has placed on himself and the lack of empowering others. “You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you.” My favorite casual reminder from Moses’ father-in-law is “You cannot do it alone.” Maybe the single most important piece of wisdom on leadership in the entire Bible. A thought worth considering this morning: “What is the relationship between ego and burnout?”
It's easy to make this comparison to the church, to clergy and vestry leaders who have taken responsibility for programs, ministries, and church communities, and embody the heaviness of their responsibilities. Or maybe it is easy to see the parallels in the family trying to grow a business while raising children involved in competitive sports, or the father trying to care for his aging mother, or the teacher who has all the demands from her students and the school coming hurling full speed at the end of a school year. Or a person preparing to move from the home they have lived into an apartment closer to grandchildren who can help with care. “You cannot do it alone.”
Exodus offers practical wisdom. I often find it far too easy to offer up the simple answer of God’s presence when things get tough. When someone has a challenging order ahead, the casual reminder that God is with us becomes the simple answer. But Exodus offers us something different. Don’t just know that God is with you, actually allow others to make the less important decisions for you, so you can focus on what is most important.
If someone has offered dinner, it's okay to say yes. Can’t eat it all? That’s ok too. Make dinner a decision you don’t have to worry about. What else can you let go of too? Who else is willing and able to make decisions for you? A little empowerment goes a long way.
John+
Questions for Self-Reflection: Consider the questions in the reflection such as what is the relationship between ego and burnout? Where in your life do you feel exhaustion and where do you find renewal? Is decision-making a part of that? Who in your life can help?
Daily Challenge: Empower someone in your life, to make a decision for you that lessens your own burdens.