Ministerial Wellness

By: Pastor Richard Izzard

        A number of years ago, a large hospital in New York City undertook some major repair work to be done outside the Nursery Ward where the newborns were placed.  The noise was more than anyone imagined. The constant noise of the hammering and drills disturbed their sleep and often left them crying and screaming. Someone suggested piping in soft lullabies over their speaker system.  But it had no effect. Others suggested Beethoven and Brahms, again to no avail. It wasn’t until one new Mom suggested tape recording the sound of a mother’s heartbeat while the child was in the womb. When they played it over their speaker system, the effect was nothing short of magical.  Though the chaos continued outside, peace and rest had returned to the ward.
        People need to hear the heartbeat of God, from the first heartbeat that brings us the message of love and hope “Unto us is born this day in the city of David a Child who is Christ the Lord,” to God’s heartbeat that continued to beat reminding us that this same Christ Child is the one who made peace by the blood of his cross, so that might never forget that God’s heart never stops beating for us knowing that the message of God’s love was complete and forever when all the earth and heaven above cried out, “He is risen, He is risen indeed.”  
        Our ability to love and forgive is in direct proportion to our awareness of the awesomeness of God’s love for us.  Sometimes, Pastors, Church Workers and God’s people can become so engrossed in God’s work, that we forget to take the time to listen to the wonder of God’s heart beating for us. 
        What’s true for Pastors is also true for our Churches.  A Church “in tune” with Christ will also be in tune with Christ’s mission and in tune with one another.  How will people know the truth about God’s love, if they don’t see it lived out among God’s people? Extravagant love and sacrificial living are always character traits of a person redeemed by Christ as one who reflects the heartbeat of God.