scenes of a big church

my church is either the biggest or the most central church in our district, as we always have district meetings there. tonight as i leave my office i pass a sign "district ministers meeting with bishop." intrigued i stick my head in. conversations ensue

ds: hey you need to be here for this
me: what is this
ds: it's a presentation on how to avoid burn-out
me: i gotta get home or my sick wife will burn me

speak some quick pleasantries to other pastors and youth worker. big hug to pastor i hadn't seen in quite a few months. good to have a quick catch up (he affirms need to head home). continue to walk downstairs out the door. run into pastor i hadn't seen in even longer time. family chat catch up. conversation ensues

pj: so what is this thing all about?
me: it's a presentation on how to avoid burn-out
pj: great, let me go home from mandatory meeting, thursday is my non-meeting night
me: have fun with it
pj: what do you mean?
me: ask a question like, "i've always heard it was better to burn out than to fade away?"
pj: hahaha!
me: "didn't wesley say to light yourself on fire and people come watch you burn?"
pj: i might just do that

i wonder if he did?

Comments

[Jonathon Norman]

probably not. i hear that ds's caught wind of pastors catching themselves on fire for this very reason and now they carry pocket extinguishers just in case.

[natalie]

haha... that John Wesley quote is my senior quote for my school's yearbook.

[melissa]

I happen to love the fact that it's a meeting to avoid burn out...one more thing people have to add to their schedules...