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Most pastors know what you’re talking about when you say “Blue Monday.” They’ve had them—maybe often. Blue Monday is more than a Monday morning hangover. It’s closer to a feeling of failure—wanting to give up and walk away. Usually by the middle of the week the gloom lifts and you are back to your old self. But not always. The pastors I talk with can often name what triggered their Blue Monday. If these stories sound true it is because they are
-You preached a powerful sermon yesterday on the Lord’s will and sensed God’s anointing. The biggest response you got was from the member correcting your pronouncing of Phrygia.
So, have you ever had a Blue Monday triggered by something like this? Have you been tempted to just give up, toss in the towel and walk away? Most pastors have.
But the question isn’t why pastors feel this way on some Mondays. The question is: Why do they stick in there anyway? Even through a string of Blue Mondays, why would a pastor still keep on keeping on? Is it the money? Fame? Personal satisfaction? Just for the fun of it? I don’t think so.
I think it has something to do with The Call. The Call takes you through Blue Mondays…even Blue Februarys. Those who do ministry for fun or money or a nice career, or because their grandmother prayed them into it, don’t make it through Blue Mondays. They’d rather hang drywall or be a security guard. I think it’s The Call. What do you think?
© Keith Drury, 2005.
www.drurywriting.com/keith
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Keith Drury served The Wesleyan Church headquarters in Christian Education and Youth leadership for 24 years before becoming a professor of religion at Indiana Wesleyan University. He is the author of more than a dozen books of practical spirituality, including Holiness for Ordinary People, Common Ground and Ageless Faith. Keith Drury wrote the Tuesday Column for 17 years (1995-2012), and many articles can be found on his blog “Drury Writing.”
Keith Drury retired from full time teaching in 2012. Keith is married to Sharon and has two adult sons and several grandchildren. He is retired in Florida with Sharon and enjoys cycling.