健康牧者： 面对十二月的忙碌与情绪波动

亲爱的同路人，我的弟兄们：

作为牧者，一想到十二月接下来的一连串事工，你心里怎么样？光是看见那些行程，会不会有点紧张、有点压力？

要照顾好我们的情绪，第一步其实很简单，就是诚实地觉察自己的感受。不妨问问自己：想到这个月时，我是喜乐、忧伤、生气，还是有点害怕？

十二月当然可以是一个充满喜乐的季节——但对不少人来说，它也可能带着重量。我们当中有弟兄今年失去了亲人；有些经历了婚姻的破碎；有些正在与抑郁或疲惫搏斗。节日的气氛，有时反而会把深埋的伤痛再次带出来。哀伤就是这样，时不时会涌上心头。

那我们该如何在忙碌与复杂的情绪中前行呢？

其实，有一个非常简单却十分有帮助的小动作：
每次开始新的活动前，先停下来三十秒，向主祷告：

“主啊，我们又要开始一项奉你名而做的事工。今天会有很多人、很多事情要做。求你让我看见谁需要一句鼓励、一个拥抱、或一声祷告。不要让忙碌模糊了我们的真正目的——就是服事人。”

“天父，也提醒我记得，耶稣是喜乐的主，祂曾在婚宴中欢喜。求你把祂的喜乐放在我里面，让我在这些日子里也能因你所成就的一切而庆祝。”

我们这些“带着伤痕的医治者”，既能与喜乐的人同乐，也能与哀哭的人同哭。如果我们这样活，这个十二月或许会成为这些年来最真实、最有恩典、最有温度的一个。我真心相信这是可能的。

也别忘了：**身体、情绪和属灵生命是连在一起的。**忙起来的时候，我们最容易忽略运动。
但其实，哪怕只做 5–10 分钟的深蹲或跳绳，都很有帮助。不仅能让内啡肽上升，让头脑更清醒，也能让身心都重新轻松起来。

愿每一位弟兄在这个圣诞季都满有平安、力量与喜乐。

你在主里的弟兄与朋友，
Brent

PS 附注：
我也特别想鼓励你，在十二月里给自己留一段安静的独处时间。找个公园，一个人在小路上散散步；或者找个安静角落坐下来，想想人生，默想神和祂的话语。让心慢下来，让灵里重新回到与你的主同在的状态里。

人越忙，其实越需要这样的停顿。我们的天父也盼望和祂所爱的儿子有一段单独相处的时光。你不妨试一试——也许会慢慢形成一个对灵命非常有益的习惯。这些年，它真实地改变了我，我也盼望它能同样祝福你。

弟兄们，无论十二月有多少挑战，请记得：耶稣与我们同在。祂住在我们里面，也与我们同工。祂是大牧者，我们只是祂的小牧人。
感谢主——真正的担子不在我们身上！

Dear Brothers on the Journey,

As pastors, how do you feel about the days ahead in December? Does the thought of all the activities make you a little anxious?

To stay emotionally healthy the first step is simply to notice how we feel. Try naming your emotions as you think about this month: glad, sad, mad, or afraid.

December can be a wonderful joyous time—but it can also be heavy. Some people in our congregations—or even some of us who serve as pastors—have lost a parent, a spouse, or a child this year. Some have gone through divorce. Some are struggling with depression. Holiday celebrations can bring grief to the surface. Grief is strange; it comes in waves.

How do we navigate the busyness and the emotions?

Here is something small that can make a big difference. Before starting each activity, pause for a moment and pray:

“Lord, here is another activity we are doing in Your name. There will be many people there, and much to do, but help me see who needs an encouraging word, a hug, or a prayer. Keep me from being so busy that I forget the real reason we’re here—to minister to people. And Father, help me remember that Jesus celebrated life—He rejoiced at weddings. Help me be a joy-filled person, celebrating all You’ve done and all we have in You.”

As wounded healers we can rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. If we can do that, perhaps this will be the best December ever? I believe it can.

Finally, remember that our body and our emotions and our spiritual life are all interconnected. When we’re too busy, we forget to exercise. But let me tell you, even 5 to 10 minutes of body squats or jump rope can do amazing things. This definitely boosts our endorphins, stimulates our brain, and brings happiness to our body and soul.

Jesus is with us, brothers — within us, and present in every situation this month. He is the healer, and this is His ministry. We are only His co-shepherds. Praise God—the pressure is not on us!
Merry Christmas season to all!

Your friend and brother in the Lord,

Brent

Ps. Also, I highly recommend that you plan for a personal time of solitude. Go to a park and walk alone on a trail, sit quietly and think about life, God, and His word. Take a few hours to calm your soul and live in your union with Christ. The busier we are the more we need this. Moreover, your father in heaven also desires time with you as his son. Try it and you might develop a very healthy spiritual habit that will change you as it has changed me over the years.