The Lawrence Schmidt Center newsletter recently published an article by Dr. George Morelli on Clergy Fatigue and Burnout, in which he listed signs of compassion fatigue. While our culture increasingly slips into labelitis or thinking that by assigning something with a label, they are solving the problem, it is helpful to note some of the signs he indicated. I will summarize some of the signs.
1. Becoming preoccupied with those you are helping.
2. Not finding satisfaction with one’s ministry.
3. Experiencing a loss of energy.
4. Finding difficulty separating ones own feelings and spiritual life from the problems being dealt with.
5. Increased irritability in everyday matters.
6 Concluding that one’s priestly activities are not worthwhile.
His suggestions for ways to combat this fatigue I find rather mundane and not very helpful, but the indicators might serve as warning signs to any of us. From a spiritual perspective, a key factor may be the inability to separate ones spiritual life from either the problems in another person’s life or the public measures of success in our society. Once we become over identified with the tasks we are performing, then those problems, rather than God, are directing our lives. Since the nature of ministry rarely allows us to come to full resolution in many of the challenges before us, we can easily feel overwhelmed and a failure.
I would submit that a key factor leading to compassion fatigue, as opposed to physical and emotional exhaustion, is a loss of vision for our ministry. To draw upon the work of Vicktor Frankle, when we lose touch with the “why,” then our soul begins to dry up. If you look at either the major biblical figures or the lives of many of the saints of the faith, there was an inner strength that enabled them to keep going despite suffering, failure, and defeat. They were able to hold on to the source that gave their life meaning and their work satisfaction. That is what we need to discover how to do.
