Fatigue

I’ve always liked Rece Davis. Not only is he from “the great state,” he also has roots in my beloved Hamilton. But there’s more, he’s a solid guy. No hint of scandal, married to his only wife for 30 years, doesn’t use profanity in a time when it seems most commentators on sports spout that stuff like it’s a prize. 

I stumbled on an interview with him about his long running role on GameDay on ESPN. He has done the show since 2016. GameDay is a 3 hour show that moves all around the country each year. I honed in on one question. The interviewer asked “Do you ever get fatigued of all the time and travel each week?” Davis smiled and immediately answered: “You don’t get tired if you are engaged with what you do!”

You know he’s right. I suppose every field of labor faces fatigue of one kind or another, I know it can be true of preaching and ministry. Paul pleads for us to not become weary in doing right (Galatians 6:9), obviously solidifying the fact that we can become thus wearied. 

In our work, it’s emotional fatigue as you carry lists of other’s burdens. It’s mental fatigue as you must never cease your study. It’s relational fatigue as you encounter others anger, stress, and volatility. It’s stress fatigue as you strive to balance all of the responsibilities. It’s physical fatigue, I know of few preachers who have what one would call “normal” sleep patterns. Some of these pile on all at once and others seem to never go away. The truth is, it can get to us and weigh us down and weary us. 

I think Rece is right, if we stay engaged in what we are doing, we won’t get overly tired. It’s when we tire of the work, the worry, and the weariness and we become disengaged and dissatisfied that we are most likely to bolt. If you are feeling down, get back in the game, reengage, be all in on your service to the Lord where you are. It will renew you.