Comments | pastoralice: Flames Licking my Body

pastoralice

Flames Licking my Body

Jan 28, 2007 15:35

So, I think I'm pretty much burning out. Creating youth events, even ones that I enjoy, is becoming a struggle. Now, I just sigh when I think about all the work still needed for tonight's program and the inversely proportional number of teenagers who will be there ( Read more... )

failure, work

Comments 6

lordrefa January 28 2007, 20:51:18 UTC

The only thought or suggestion I would have is find a way to delegate much of this work to the youth themselves. Help them to do the things for themselves. :)

pastoralice January 29 2007, 02:39:38 UTC

Interestingly, I have. We've got a "youth council" which is ostensibly in charge of coming up with the things we'll do and in helping them come to pass. I'm stuck between thinking that I'm just not good at getting them to own it and thinking that they're just way too overscheduled. Seriously, it's a crime how much stuff they do. I thought I was busy, but their calendars put mine to shame.

I spend a lot of time talking about Sabbath time with them. I think some of it will eventually sink in.

docmom January 28 2007, 21:58:03 UTC

Depending on what "set our goals lower" means, I'm not sure I'd classify that as failure.

You're working with the mercurial creatures known as teenagers. A group only surpassed in their inability to comply with adult expectations by two-year-olds. Any inroads is a success. Every time you spend the time, there is success. And they don't forget it all. They just pretend to. :) It's not cool to act like you learned something.

You're working for God, remember? What are His expectations? Human expectations set us up to feel like failures, because we focus on the wrong goals.

Time to refocus, that's all.

pastoralice January 29 2007, 02:43:07 UTC

Mercurial is right. And you're right, too, in saying that they are listening. I pride myself on "getting" teenagers. I can talk to them in their languange, they think I'm dorky but cool. I'm not mom, so that's a plus. And I know it's true that any inroad is good--it just frequently seems like I'm not actually making inroads.

I think the problem is I want immediate, clear feedback from them and their parents. You know, this worked, this didn't, I felt good/bad when..., etc. That, of course, is not how the world works.

Refocus, yes. Yet, still that burnout feeling. My brain and body are not really communicating, you know? This too shall pass...

maxsilver January 29 2007, 00:30:03 UTC

Burning often leads to crashing, and it's just really not worth it. I've done it a few times now. You've gotta have the personality to do it...you may; I know I don't, so I can't advise to that. Remember that the world turns without you...it's OK to let it go on its merry way on occasion.

Also, I suspect docmom's right...kids often take a lot more away than their elders think they do. At least I'm certain I did. ;)

pastoralice January 29 2007, 02:46:41 UTC

I'm so extroverted it's off the charts, so I can brazen my way through a lot of shit. But I think I have brazened my way and now I'm tired.

I do remember a lot of my time as a teenager and the adults who affected it. It's like leading preschool chapel. These three-year-olds will not remember any of the specific stories we tell or the prayers they make, but they will remember being in church and talking about God. It's baby steps.

Also, the event tonight had 10 youth--many more than I expected, so "yay!"