Season of Frenzy - Part 1 of 4

This is a four-part series to be posted this week. This Part 1 will include the following additional backdrop:

These are interesting days. The world economy is changing. Many, many people are asked to do more with less. Businesses are cutting back, leaving survivors to pick up the slack. Churches are reducing staff, requiring more work for those who stay. Sometimes God calls us to start an initiative which is going to demand that we serve outside our comfort zone for a season. These are all examples of what I call the "Season of Frenzy".

Seasons of Frenzy are those times when we are temporarily going at a dangerous speed. I say "temporary" because it's not how we were designed to live chronically. The Season of Frenzy is a harsh taskmaster. We all go through them from time to time.

I could see a Season of Frenzy approaching in my life little over a year ago. It had the potential of driving me into burnout; into depression. I had to take precautionary measures. Boy did I struggle! (I'm not perfect by any means) But, oh how I found success in Christ! (God sure is perfect)

With the assistance of a life coach, I took notes and kept a journal through the Season. My last journal entry of the coaching season was a recap of all I learned. I am sharing it over four blog posts with the prayer that you learn from God. If you are in a Season of Frenzy, I pray that God is free to use the Season to help you grow beyond your wildest imagination.  The first thing I learned was...

WHAT KEPT ME SANE

Recognizing the pending busy Season of Frenzy God led me to the following measures which proved to keep me sane until the Season was essentially over:

1) LIFE COACH. I contracted with a life coach and was faithful to meet with him regularly. He helped me by giving me a safe space to process all that was going on. He helped me "take my pulse" (which we will cover in part 4). He lent his perspective from an objective point of view. He let me vent. He encouraged me when I got discouraged. He challenged me when I started selling myself short. (click here for more about life coaching)

2) KEY RELATIONSHIP. I sat down with my wife, Jennie, to discuss the coming Season. We were very careful to plan for times to pull aside and process together. We jogged together. We walked and talked together. I was incredibly fortunate to have in her someone who truly believed in me, regardless of the struggle. This was a key relationship I desperately needed to help navigate the Season.

3) DAILY SANITY. I posted about my "Daily Sanity" in an earlier post (read it here). This was a simple, spiral-bound notebook I kept to list the key activities I needed to accomplish each day. Then, as I faced distractions throughout the day, I was able to stop and revisit the "Daily Sanity" to get back on course.

4) ALONE TIME. With the help of scripture and meditative music, I was able to pull off by myself and contemplate. No work. No strategizing. No deep thinking. Just simply being in the presence of God, listening.

These were what kept me sane. Part 2 is entitled, "HOW I GREW PERSONALLY". Stay tuned...

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What has kept you sane in your Seasons of Frenzy?

Comments

[Jay Cookingham]

That a great prescription for navigating through those frenzy times. Thanks for sharing them! I try to remember to worship, singing or the silent meditation kind...that helps me through.

[Scott Couchenour]

Thanks Jay. Worship is a good thing to do too.