I'm hearing this refrain in every corner of my pastor world.
Today felt like a day to name it out loud.

Pastors are tired. On a soul level.

It's tempting to think we can solve it with a few days off. But we know we can't.

When we're not looking at our hands,
it's easy to miss the strain
the clenched fists
the tired fingers
the aching hands

I feel a bit like George Washington rapping in “Hamilton.” Can I be real a second? For just a millisecond? Let down my guard and tell the people how I feel a second? He goes on to say, Now I’m the model of a modern major general / The venerated Virginian veteran whose men are all / Lining up, to put me on a pedestal / Writin’ letters to relatives / Embellishin’ my elegance and eloquence / But the elephant is in the room...

This is for any leader in our world who’s tired of cultures of fear, control, distrust, cynicism, isolation, unhealthy competition, status quo and fear of failure. Let’s keep shifting our cultures together toward something more beautiful, more compelling and much more effective.