A pastor experiences a cacophony of emotions ranging from ecstasy to utter despair from the various people s/he encounters. Medical doctors are often taught that they need to build in an emotional distance from their patients so that they are not drained of their own emotional reserves. That same wisdom is rarely conveyed to pastors in seminary. We are taught to empathize with those who come to us. When you continually absorb ecstasy, despair, anger, joy, and cynical doubt day after day, you can easily become numb to your own feelings. Yet, if you develop that medical distance recommended to doctors, it is easy to slip into going through the motions of being a pastor and lose the passion of your call.
We need to recognize the symptoms of compassion fatigue and learn counter measures that can help us restore our emotional balance. As Jesus instructed his disciples, so we must at times pull away and give ourselves the opportunity to rest. It is important that each identify what are those activities and experiences that are rejuvenating for them. You need to know what you can do if you only have an hour and what you can do with a day or a week. For some people it is a hobby, for others it is reading a good book or going fishing or playing a sport.
Compassion fatigue is more than physical exhaustion. It is an emotional draining and a loss of connection with the source of our call. The hobbies and mini-retreats can provide you a needed respite, but you also need to find ways to stay connected with the source that transcends the immediate and gives you hope when all else seems overwhelming. Moses’ capacity to sustain himself over the 40 years did not come from his skill as an organizer. It came from knowing that even if he could not enter the Promised Land, his efforts in getting there were not in vain. So it needs to be for you.
