"Impossibly Connected"

One of the most important books I read in seminary that formed my understanding of work/life balance was The Impossible Vocation by John Snow (no relation to the character in Game of Thrones). At the heart of the author’s take on clergy work was the belief that there would always be more work to do; one more phone call, one more pastoral visit, one more sermon to write, and so on. If the priest is depending on their own strength, their own knowledge, and their own energy, then the vocation will be impossible. However, if they establish healthy boundaries, work collaboratively, and prioritize their own needs, then the vocation can be a source of great joy and fulfillment, rather than something that leads to burnout. 

The book cover made me laugh. It had an old 1980s desktop PC with a 3.5-inch floppy disk, and a messy desk adorned with a landline telephone. I’m not trying to be a tech snob. It’s just that I can’t relate to that time period of ministry. It would be like the priest whose desk they are using as an example, looking back to a time before the telephone or the printing press. There are numerous ways in which technology has transformed the way priests practice ministry. Some are for the better, some are for the worse. 

"There are numerous ways in which technology has transformed the way priests practice ministry. Some are for the better, some are for the worse."

One of the most significant ways technology has made the priest’s vocation more challenging is the creation of an always-connected society. The smartphone in our pocket allows us to answer emails and text messages, take pictures and upload them to social media, sign contracts, create documents, and, oh yeah, make and receive phone calls. Wherever there is a cellular or wifi signal, you are connected. This is great if I don’t want to be tied to my desk. I can be working as I drive around your local community, exploring the lay of the land. I can receive urgent pastoral calls to be at the bedside of those who are sick and dying. I can even work from home. 

The downside is that while the priest is called to be accessible to the flock, this accessibility can quickly become overwhelming if there aren’t healthy boundaries in place. I was grateful to be able to pray with a parishioner whose spouse had died suddenly, even though I was hundreds of miles away in the Dominican Republic. I was less grateful for the call asking where the coffee filters were. Establishing boundaries is an exercise in communication, understanding, and grace. I love that the people I serve feel comfortable enough to reach out to me. I’m saddened by the number of times someone has refrained from calling me during a crisis because they thought I was busy and didn’t want to be bothered. 

Closely tied to the problem of the always-connected society is the temptation to always be working. It’s here that John Snow’s book reminds us that it isn’t a sin to stop. I recognize within myself a deep desire to keep working. The work is engaging, and watching our faith communities grow as a result of the work we have put in can be rewarding. The other side of that dynamic is that we are working because there are not enough hands on deck, and we are afraid of letting one of the balls drop. Overwork for even the best of reasons still leads to burnout. 

"Overwork for even the best of reasons still leads to burnout." 

I envy clergy who have established the boundary of not checking email on their day off. If it’s truly important, then a text message or phone call will be sufficient. The first time my friend shared that boundary with me, my blood pressure increased by 10 points! But it’s necessary because the most essential reason that we need to establish boundaries in the age of always being connected is that, before we are priests, we are human beings. We are sons and daughters. We are siblings. We are parents and we are friends. We need to be present and honor the relationships that support us and give our lives meaning. We need to be present for ourselves and experience genuine sabbath, the kind of rest in the presence of God that restores our breath and rekindles our faith. 

The vocation doesn’t have to be impossible. It was never meant to be. God knows our limitations better than we do. The choice we have is whether we are going to live out our vocation, conscious of our limitations, establishing healthy boundaries, and dare I say it, disconnecting occasionally.