Pace yourself. That’s wisdom suitable for a seasoned athlete…or any Christian. With the COVID-delayed 2020 Summer Olympics beginning this month, many Americans will be tuning in to watch all the games from the artistry of gymnastics to the exhaustion of track and field events as well as everything in between. Even Olympic badminton can be exciting!
Not all the Olympic events receive as much televised attention or fan interest, but all teach us lessons about skill and tenacity. And this is where pacing becomes part of the equation. An athlete may possess great skill and have incredible tenacity, but if that athlete does not pace himself or herself for the long haul, the skill and tenacity will be lost.
What’s wrong with an un-paced life?
An un-paced life is wearisome. Expending your energy quickly may be good for sprinters, but is disastrous for distance athletes, leaving them weary when they need the strength to finish. Too many stressful moments, worrisome days or chaotic weeks and you’ll be flirting with emotional burnout. And as your emotional state simmers, your demeanor becomes irritable and inconsiderate. Tempers flare. Words become terse, patience grows short, email and text responses take on an abrupt feel that leave others wondering what you really mean. Your usual, loveable personality packs up and goes on an extended vacation. And while you may be able to keep it together in public, your family often suffers through your meltdowns at home.
An un-paced life often lacks integrity. When you bite off more than you can chew, some responsibilities are hard to swallow. You get IRS heartburn – Integrity at Risk Syndrome. Some wise sage once said, “The person who burns the candle at both ends isn’t nearly as bright as he thinks he is.” When exhausted, you are more tempted to cut corners; you don’t care how you get things done or even if you get them done. And that leads to guilt, because you know you should do better. There’s no satisfaction in responsibilities done poorly.
As the emotional burnout deepens, you may even consider compromising your integrity. When you are emotionally and mentally exhausted, your spiritual energy suffers. You become dismissive of spiritual disciplines that normally would be viewed as priorities. In essence, you stop caring about the important matters of life because your mental and emotional clarity has been compromised by exhaustion. Your integrity takes a beating.
I enjoy anything that has to do with aircraft and aviation history. One of my favorite television series from the late seventies portrayed the WW II squadron known as the Black Sheep Squadron. Flying F4U Corsairs in the south Pacific, the series loosely reenacted the antics of squadron leader “Pappy” Boyington and the marine pilots under his command. Some time ago, I discovered a website that offered the entire television series for sale on DVD. The site presented the product as “all thirty-seven uncut NBC episodes” – what a find! When the DVDs arrived, they were homemade discs copied from VHS tapes of the series as aired on the History Channel. Needless to say, I was disappointed. Technically, I received all 37 episodes (with commercial interruptions as a bonus!) but I was far from satisfied. The product had been misrepresented – corners had been cut and integrity sacrificed.
You and I cannot afford such fallout from mental and emotional burnout. Former US Senator, Alan Simpson said it best, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”
Consider these simple ideas to help you keep pace:
- Be realistic in how much you can do. Take on too many responsibilities and you’ll find yourself headed toward burnout. Don’t take on more than you can accomplish with excellence.
- Find ways to clear your mind and refresh your energy. When the stress of life weighs you down, step back for a moment. Pause and read a chapter from your favorite style of book. Exercise or take a walk in God’s creation – it will help restore your focus. Talk with a trusted friend and enlist their prayer support. Watch a funny movie and laugh out loud. Any of these activities can help refresh and restore your mental and emotional energy.
- Reserve time for your family or close friends. Invest emotional capital in those irreplaceable relationships so that when you are struggling, they can provide your biggest support and encouragement.
- Most importantly, make quality time for your relationship with God. Pray, spend time in the Word and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Make the Lord your priority!
Life is not a short race; it is a marathon. You cannot afford to give out halfway through this race. Pace yourself so that you can “…press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14 (NIV)
