Everything's Connected
Every morning and evening the Lord reminds me of the same lesson, "everything's connected." It happens when I brush my teeth--when I turn on the bathroom faucet to brush my teeth, water begins to drip from the shower head 8 feet away! And when it does I smile to myself and think, "everything's connected."
I know enough about plumbing to know what's happening—the shower faucet is a little weak, and when I turn on the sink faucet and water flows past the shower junction, there's a quick increase in water pressure, and the increase in pressure causes water to push past the shower faucet. And, voilà, water begins to drip! I suppose I could fix the faucet easily enough, but I enjoy the spiritual lesson.
That's the topic of my next chapter in "Passages for Pastors: Common sense advice from scripture for those in ministry." The verse is found in Hebrews, 12:14-15 "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;"
The "root of bitterness" is reference a type of plant that sends a root out underground, only to have it pop up and make a new plant somewhere else. I had this happen I my yard just last summer, when a neighbor's tree sent a root under the fence, and a new sapling popped up in my yard. The message is the same—everything's connected. Although Hebrews issues and additional warning—bad things can pop up in unexpected places and spoil good things. Bitterness, hostility, sin, etc,…. all of it can pop up in unexpected places and spoil unrelated things.
Not long ago Teri hosted a ladies Tea, and the ladies committee worked eagerly to set the tables properly. However one lady erupted about some insignificant detail. Teri thought to herself, "this is not about this, it's about something else." Afterwards she spoke with the lady and learned the real reason for her outburst--her husband had received a bad medical diagnosis and she was fearful for his life. Everything's connected.
Of course God has given us a remarkable ability to compartmentalize in times of crisis—humans can shut off pain or emotion in order to respond to emergency. This is a crucial survival mechanism. However this type of disconnection is not healthy for the long term.
The point is that healthy ministry requires a healthy body, a healthy mind, a healthy soul, and healthy relationships. We can't disconnect these areas of our life and expect the anointing to flow over the long term. We've all stepped into the pulpit with some kind of splinter in our soul, disconnected from it long enough to accomplish the ministry. That's an important survival mechanism. However this can not be the rule—we must maintain a healthy life if we want to sustain a healthy ministry. Because, "everything's connected."
Perhaps I'm in a situation where I need to have this lesson further engrained in my spirit—because I'm going to be reminded of it again in just a few hours.
Articles & Resources for Church Workers
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Anthrax & Antidote—Becoming Biblically Wise in Times of Spiritual Terrorism
How can the pastor maintain spiritual health in the face of the insidious schemes of an invisible enemy? How can he protect his people from the insidious attacks of a ruthless enemy? -
The Necessity of Leadership in the Smaller Congregation
What is leadership? The question is more than just idle speculation about the philosophy of overseeing people and running an organization. It addresses the fundamental responsibility and task assigned to those who accept the call to pastor a small church. -
“I TRIED, BUT NO ONE EVER CALLED ME”
“I tried, but no one ever called me” are painful words for a leader who has much work to do and not enough people willing to do it. These words are painful for the person who wanted to contribute, but was never called. These are also painful words for a person who is committed to helping people connect and contribute in meaningful ways within the church.
