They say “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But this old dog has blown that out of the water.
How? Well, it’s like this. I suffer from that common pastoral malady of mindus runamuckus. Simply put, when I go home after a long day of ministry, I find it hard to calm my thoughts and enjoy the downtime. When I should be relaxing at home with Karen, my head is often planning the next meeting, message or consultation.
But, during a recent GTBN Leadership Luncheon, Dr. Jason Burden spoke about the danger of excessive activity and need for heathy life rhythms. After pondering Jason’s words and the associated scriptures, I sensed the Lord’s conviction. Hobbies came up in our conversation as a tool conducive to relaxation and I realized that I needed something to help me unwind my brain so that I would give Karen, others, and especially the Lord the full attention they deserved.
And so, at the age of 60, I bought a wood lathe and took up pen turning, making custom ink pens. Given my tactile appreciation of history, I hope to make pens as gifts to pastors, turned from wood of significance to them (For example, presenting a retiring pastor a pen turned from a piece of a pulpit he preached from or the church he served).
While I can write today that, after a week, I have turned several pieces and still have all ten fingers, the real benefit has come from the focus. Standing at the lathe with a chisel shaping the wood indeed helps me shift my mind from ministry, letting it rest. And, whether I am home with Karen or we are out with family, I’m more mentally present with them. I listen better and rest easier.
But honestly, these benefits are not because I took up woodwork. They come because I listened to sound teaching, pondered it carefully by searching the scriptures, then I ultimately yielded to what I believe was the Spirit’s conviction. Prompted by His conviction, I learned something new.
In my work with congregations many tell me “I’m too old to change.” I hear it from members who struggle with proposed changes in their church, and even from a few pastors when the ministry gameplan that was once so fruitful is no longer so. They are convinced that you can’t teach an old church, church member, or pastor new tricks.
But you can! Or at least, we can learn something new. Central to being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, and essential to Christian leadership, is a commitment to life-long learning. In this world of sin, as long as there is breath in our bodies there is more our Lord can teach us. And part of this is acquisition of new skills and formation of habits rendering us more fruitful for the Lord.
Keep learning. And remember, like me and my mindus runamuckus, the difference comes as you obey the Lord with what you know. Scripture is full of old guys (and ladies) learning new tricks. Why not join them?
View the video of Dr. Jason Burdon’s message, Pastoral Wellness through Sabbath here. For more encouragement and instruction, visit the Golden Triangle Baptist Network YouTube page.