One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in ministry is that caring for myself is not a luxury - it’s a calling. If I want to sustain my ability to care for others, I need to remain grounded, centered, and nourished in my own body, mind, and spirit. Over the years, I’ve developed intentional practices that help me find balance and ensure my ministry remains joyful, ethical, and sustainable.
Heart-Centered Meditation: Finding My Daily Center
Each morning, I begin my day with heart-centered meditation, a practice I learned through my training over many years at the Pathways Institute. I've done over six week of residential training and practice in this technique. This is my time to breathe deeply, connect inward, and open myself to God’s presence and the sustaining energy of the Earth. Co-mingling these two forces at my heart and opening to God's love and compassion gives me clarity and a deep sense of well-being that carries into everything I do - whether it’s preaching, offering pastoral care, or simply greeting someone warmly in a grocery store or on a Sunday morning.
Ignatian Examen: A Nightly Check-In With God
At the close of each day, I turn to the Ignatian Examen. This prayerful reflection allows me to look back and notice where God’s Spirit was present, where I acted in alignment with my values, and where I fell short. It’s not about judging myself - it’s about seeking opportunities for growth and for doing better. This rhythm helps me maintain ethical integrity and humility, which I believe are essential to trustworthy leadership in ministry.
Engaging in Spiritual Direction
Once a month, I meet with a trained Spiritual Director. These sessions offer me a sacred space to explore my spiritual journey in a deeper way, with someone who can listen objectively, ask insightful questions, and help me discern God’s movement in my life. Spiritual Direction gives me clarity when I am wrestling with decisions, helps me stay attentive to God’s invitations, and ensures that my ministry remains grounded in prayerful reflection. It is both a safeguard against burnout and a wellspring of spiritual renewal.
The Ministry of Companionship: My Three Cats
Isabella, Ikarus, and Cooper - my three Tonkinese cats - remind me daily that love, presence, and joy are found in simple moments. Time with them offers a grounding comfort. They are my quiet companions in prayer, my comic relief when the day gets heavy, and a steady reminder that God’s creatures can teach us about unconditional love. Especially the experience of raising our newest kitten, Cooper, has taught me the joys of connection to God's precious creatures.
Simple Meals, Deep Connections
I make it a priority to spend regular, unhurried time with friends over simple meals. There’s something sacred about breaking bread, telling stories, and listening deeply. These connections refill my well in ways that solitary prayer cannot. They remind me that I am part of a community too - that ministry is a shared journey, not a solitary burden. I've also discovered how important it is to have a solid circle of friends and family outside of the church world where I can be 100% myself, enabling me to not bring trauma or issues that are too challenging into my church life, while still being fully supported as a human being.
Staying Rooted in Scripture and Study
Somewhat to my surprise, I have found deep joy and grounding in studying theology and scripture at Pathways Theological Education. Engaging with the biblical text, exploring new theological perspectives, and revisiting familiar ones all deepen my faith and sharpen my pastoral skills. Especially the progressive approach to theology and hermaneutics aligns deeply with my values system and feeds and nourishes me in ways I had never imagined it would. This discipline keeps me connected to the heart of my calling: to teach, to guide, and to proclaim God’s love in ways that are relevant, affirming and life-giving.
The Outcome: Balance and Sustainability
These practices - meditation, examen, spiritual direction, companionship, community, and study - work together to keep me whole. They ensure that I show up to my ministry not as someone running on empty, but as someone rooted in God’s love, attuned to my own well-being, and ready to serve with compassion and joy.
I know that the work of ministry can be demanding and unpredictable. But I also know that with intention, balance is possible. By tending to my own soul, I not only sustain my ministry - I make it a source of life for myself and for the community I serve.
Alignment with the UCC Marks of Faithful and Effective Ministers
In caring for my own spirit through these practices, I am living into the UCC Marks of Faithful and Effective Ministers, particularly in exhibiting a spiritual foundation and ongoing spiritual practice, nurturing my own UCC identity, and leading with integrity, authenticity, and compassion. My self-care is not separate from my ministry - it is the soil in which my ministry grows. It ensures that I can continue to lead in ways that are sustainable, grounded in God’s love, and fully present to the people and communities I am called to serve.
