Little Fires Everywhere
Written by Melissa Sharpe
Music washed over the background noise of conversations and transactions. The air was a mixed symphony of scented candles and baked goods. The people were lively as vendor after vendor marketed their goods and services for sale. Craft markets are a hub where hobbies meet the hustle and its a very devoted and passionate community who frequent them.
I wandered the aisles slowly, attempting my best effort to avoid small talk, allowing myself a few hours of solitude. But, alas, my efforts were in vain as I was approached by a woman with kind eyes and confident demeanour, standing beside a large banner advertising counselling services. She had a stack of colourful Post-It notes in her hand and was handing me a pen. She asked me to write a word that would express my most authentic self in that moment. What was my fear? What was my worry? I was a little startled and didn't want to participate, but the healing people-pleaser in me took the pen. And I wrote a word.
Burnout.
It is a word understood by most, experienced by many, and ignored too often.
Several months ago, I began assisting the director of a Christian advocacy agency that supports young mothers. Most of them have come from trauma, including human trafficking, addiction, abuse, diagnosis after diagnosis and everything in between. It is exactly where God needs me to be, for it aligns with the desires of my heart and my gifts and abilities. But the work is difficult and deep. Its demands are emotionally, mentally and physically taxing. Because social work isn't ministry work, but ministry work is social work.
Most of these young women live in physical poverty and board the struggle bus daily. They carry the heaviness of pain while simultaneously seeking purpose. The generational chaos is familiar and consistent. They wail their sorrows yet wish for peace. They are broken yet strong all at once. And this world does them no favours. It takes, and takes, and takes some more until the coffers are dry.
And then it strikes a match. Little fires everywhere.
As I looked at the word I had written on the Post-It note among the cluster of words penned by others, I was reminded of the promise of Isaiah.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2
As leaders, we need to stand upon the promises of God for they are our protection and where we find the strength to persevere. For when we do, and we lean into His presence, we can be the balm to the walking wounded. We can help soothe the soul of the scorched. We can help extinguish the flames that threaten to consume the weakened. For in Him, His power and promise, we can do all things.
