People mainly just tweet about the great stuff going on in their lives. I do the same thing. However, I have learned from people that are watching and studying me (and other leaders) that they get the impression that our lives are always GREAT! They then start to feel really weird and inadequate because their lives don’t look anything like our AMAZING tweets.
So – I wanted to have a keep it real moment and tell you a bunch of bad stuff about me and my life :-)
(FYI – I love my life. Love my family. Love my church. Love God…..but bad stuff happens in my world too. Just want you all to see that leaders have good and BAD going on)
- I have a sinus infection that I cannot shake. Had it since I was in Haiti. Makes my throat hurt when I talk and I blow my nose constantly.
- I have a tooth that hurts badly. A lot of my teeth were damaged in the car accident I was in many years ago.
- I regularly feel like I am in over my head with leadership issues and barely get enough air to breathe and keep on leading.
- Since we do good work in Haiti and in Atlanta I get so many hurting people ask me and the church for money and help. Hard to say no so many times.
- I made a big strategic leadership error a few weeks ago. I took a real gamble with a decision that I KNEW was the right decision. Maybe it will pan out, but it looks like it won’t.
- Our 17 year old niece that we looked after all summer moved back to Kentucky last week and really made a complete fool of herself and strained our relationship with her and her family. Was very stressful.
- Have had to make some very tough decisions about some great people in our church that are making some very poor personal choices in life.
- I regularly get people (that mean well and are often right) tell me how much better I could be doing at something. Even when you are giving it your best, it gets old.
- I have found growing our church attendance and growing our church budget very difficult. Unlike others, I actually value these 2 numbers.
- People tell me every personal problem they are having. I love being a bearer of secrets and this is my calling. Does not make it easy.
- I have been wrestling and struggling lately with how badly I want to help the desperate and hurting kids of Haiti. Atlanta has hurting kids, but you’d have to go to Haiti to know why this is hard to shake.
- Have something VERY BIG brewing. Maybe the biggest thing I have ever done. I don’t know that it will work, but I think so.
- Just learned that my Uncle Wayne has colon cancer.
- My favorite principal in the city has been wrongly accused of condoning cheating and now many of the teachers there (who attend our church) are facing interrogations interviews about this mess
- I have very close friends that are on the brink of financial disaster.
- Received an email recently from a stranger that said her new mission in life was to stop me and people like me
- Someone else actually wrote a negative poem about some of the work I am leading in Haiti. Who does that?
I could actually go on and on. Hopefully that does the trick for you leaders out there that needed to hear this. Leaders have good and bad going on. Pray for your leaders. Support them. Encourage them. They need it….even if you only read AMAZING TWEETS!
{ 19 comments }
Thanks bro. Needed to read this. I'm right there, facing my own mountain. Nothing more liberating to know that God is in charge through it all.
Much Love.
-Anthony
Relentless Church
Shaun, Thanks for putting things in perspective. Glad to know that I am not the only leader who is not blowing the roof off all the time. Appreciate the honesty.
Grace!
Rick
Just goes to show you that we are all, even our leaders, human. We all face the same human trials and tribulations. We all need someone, or even many someones, to pray for us now and then so we can continue to strive and carry on. Prayers are coming your way Shaun.
Man Shaun!
I'm not even pastoring full time and yet I told my wife last night that it feels as if I am. I have been dealing with so many close friends marriage issues and it freakin hurts. Counseling some family through some MAJOR ISSUES in their lives that will change their lives for ever. Funds tight transitioning out of full time ministry and now I'm making your life worse by dumping it all on you! LOL Regardless – nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:38,39). What He began in us He will complete it! Psalm 138:8, Phil 1:6 And the same comfort He gives us through our drama He wants us to give it to others also. 2 Cor 1:3,4
Keep running the race fam! Thanks for venting and letting me vent!
eDDie
You are such an inspiration! The work you are doing motivates so many of us to take the next step and do God's extraordinary work. Keep fighting the good fight, and we will keep you in our prayers! Thank you for all you do, in spite of the bad stuff!
Hang in there Ant! I got your back man!
Absolutely Rick! We have to keep it real so we all know what's going on.
Thanks a ton Peggy!
Hey eDDie! Thanks a ton bro. Keep giving it your best shot and leaning on our God. Here for you!
Thanks my friend! Did your mother name you T.Ro.Dub.?
Shaun,
You are a great man doing GREAT things!!! I so very much appreciate your transparency. As bad as your bad stuff is, it’s so refreshing to know that my family isn’t alone in their struggles. Too many leaders & churchy people I know paint pictures of their lives resemble roses & rainbows. That tends to make me feel like I did something wrong somehow or my life is a total mess!!! The way that you keep it real is like a breath of fresh air. You & your amazing family & your church have had & will ALWAYS have my love, respect, support appreciation, and will remain in my daily prayers!!!! Keep doing what you’re doing, we’ve got your back!!
Much love,
Lesley
Shaun, thanks for this. I appreciate your vulnerability and honesty!
Keep on fighting. You are a threat to the kingdom of darkness. The city of Atlanta needs a dynamic voice like yours. Shame on the woman who wants to stop you. Blessings
Hey Shaun, Keep up the good work! If it were easy, everybody would do it!
Have you got a good coach? Someone outside your circle whose experience you respect can help you with the overwhelming stuff – especially when it comes to knowing you're not the first person down these roads! (Been there man!)
One time when I was down, a pastor suggested I get my group of intercessors together (I was like, who?) – people who are praying for you, on whom you can lay the burdens of your heart (a cord not easily broken)
Another friend recommended I schedule "uppers" into my week – you are meeting people whose concerns burden you and are like "downers" to ya (not that it's necessarily their fault – it's your compassionate heart, loving!) – so intentionally put people in your week who inspire you, maybe even schedule them strategically to offset some of that stuff…
You are not alone, brother! one day at a time~
Shaun,
I so glad I got to hear you back at Uprising! It was an honor to donate a tent to Haiti. I've been to Honduras so I can appreciate your hopes/hurts over Haiti. Loving one person does not diminish our love of other people. There's always enough to go around! I wish my wife could teach at the school you've described.
love ya,
sandy
Whassup Shaun? Met you in NC at C3 Church. This blog is right on! And I must admit, knowing you are going through all this bad stuff does make my day look brighter! HAHAHA
Pastor Shaun,
First I don't appreciate the last comment…Who does that ^^^^?! Hopefully the right spirit will overcome whatever made Ferrell think that was cool to say.
Secondly, it saddens me to hear all of these valleys you are facing but I know that you will persevere. We at the church love and support you. It takes a lot to put your own battles out there but anyone who knows you will know that you always keep it real and this post is an example of such. One of my favorite scriptures is Job 2:10 where Job's wife tells him to curse GOD and die because of his condition and Job responds by asking should we accept good from GOD and trouble. That always helps me to face hard times and accept the balance of life.
Just know we are praying for you and supporting you. Much Love Pastor.
Hey Ron! What bad did Ferrell say? I don't see it!
Don't worry about me bro! I just wanted folk to know that everybody has good AND bad that they go through!
See you soon my man.
Pastor Shaun
I guess I just took it the wrong way pastor he sounded a bit too happy, maybe it was "hahaha". To edit the typo above Job asks should we accept good from GOD and not trouble basically saying we mustn't only accept good but trouble as well and praise the same regardless of the circumstances.
See you Sunday
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