I took one of our house cats to the vet the other day. Her name is Sadie. She had been showing signs of distress lately, and we noticed that all of our attempts to heal her had fallen short. She was whining more than usual; scratching her ears; and she was showing some new aggression we hadn’t seen before. Dr. Norris, our vet, examined her and gave us some remedies to try at home. We were willing to administer these, with one exception: We were not going to put any pills into the back of her mouth. We have seen those kitty teeth in action!

I’ve noticed that it’s one thing to pick up on signs of distress in our pets, but it’s another thing to recognize it in myself or other professional church workers. There are, of course, the usual signs we ask about – after we ask: “Are you OK?” The usual signs are loss of energy or enthusiasm; diminished creativity; insomnia or waking up at 3 am; appetite loss; and overall crankiness. These are but a few of the usuals.

The problem often is, though, that many of us are accustomed to powering through these – partly out of dedication to our craft – but also because we are determined (or too stubborn) to not admit that we need help. Ouch! Help? Me?

Our Care & Coaching Team stands ready to offer help, in whatever form that might take. The beauty of it, is that everyone on the team is skilled and certified to walk with us, offering whatever help is needed. The great thing is that their patience and non-shaming presence is often the very thing we need to let down our guard and admit that we are not “OK.” That’s the first step toward being “OK,” and these are among the best at taking us there.

I personally benefit greatly from monthly conversations with my coach, counselor, and assortment of professionals who invest their time in my wellbeing. I encourage you to do the same. What we do, in serving God’s people, is hard work. It can take a toll, sometimes blinding us to our need for someone to walk with us.

At Care & Coaching, I like to think: “No one walks alone.”

See you on the walk!
By Jim Otte