COMPASSION FATIGUE

The words that seem to be crossing my personal radar screen lately are Compassion Fatigue.  I hear them talked about in a Podcast, I see them in a book I am reading, those words seem to be everywhere. 

Years ago, when I was at FamilyLife, I worked with the most precious lady. Her name was Cliffe, she was my administrative assistant, she was a saint. One day she wrote a note and taped to my desk.  This is what it said, “Dear Barry, it is not your responsibility to take care of the whole world. That is my job!” –  GOD

Pastors, caregivers, health care professionals, business leaders today have a whole new set of battles as they juggle and struggle with the needs, not only in their personal lives and families, but as they manage the needs of their teams and co-workers. A new 5 letter word, COVID, has wreaked havoc in many of our lives.

Many years ago on the Ed Sullivan show, there was an entertainer who would spin multiple plates on top of long poles. He would start with one plate, then move on to the next and the next and the next, until there were many plates all spinning at the same time. As the plates began to wobble, he would dash back to the beginning and re-spin each plate just as they were about to crash to the floor. Is that not like us today, so many plates spinning, so much going on, then we wobble, hoping that someone or something will keep us from crashing to the floor.

A few years back, I had the joy of working with Spark of Life. This ministry came alongside people who had experienced devastating loss. We would call these people “our heroes.” It took so much courage for them to reach out for help. I worked with that ministry for 6 years, and it definitely took a toll on me.

It seemed that my every conversation was about loss. Every time I approached a donor, I was telling a loss story. I loved the hurting people who attended our grief recovery retreats. I wanted to help carry their burdens. Our Spark team gave all they had to come alongside these people.

When I left Spark of Life, I realized I had nothing left emotionally. In the past few years, I have lost several dear friends, I mean best friends. They were each in a battle with serious health issues, and I realized I had nothing to give them. It broke my heart that I had nothing. In the past, I would have been on the frontlines with them, reaching out to them. But instead, I wanted to retreat because I was emotionally exhausted. I was burned out, weary… I had compassion fatigue.  

I should have paid more attention to the note Cliffe left on my desk. It is not my responsibility to save the world. That is God’s job.

Over the past two years I have been on my own journey of recovery from burnout. I have endeavored to spend more time alone with God. To be still and listen. To meditate on these words from Jesus,

“Come to Me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

Have you noticed that Jesus was never in a hurry? He set an example by getting away often from the crowd, from the demands and the needs of others so He could have time to pray to His Father. He saw this as a priority. Our Lord retreated, rested, and prayed often. Should we not do the same?

This is why Legacy Landing is being formed, this is His ministry. The need has already been expressed by so many. It is ok to have a little Soul Care. We trust that our Legacy Landing retreats will be a gentle reminder that God has the world, He has you and He wants to spend time with you away from the noisy places in your life.

Jeannie and I recently spent some time at one of our retreat locations. It is a beach house on a small island in south Florida. You have to take a ferry boat to get to the property. It is a place I think Jesus would have gone to retreat, but he would not have needed a ferry boat. 

We still need God to provide the ongoing funds to support Legacy Landing. If you are in a position togive, will you please pray about helping to support this ministry? And if you’ve already given, thank you so, so much! Please pray for us as we continue to finetune the retreat material and as we continue to raise additional support to meet our salary and ministry expenses.