A Good Tired

There are two kinds of tired – a weary tired and a ‘good tired.’ After a long return trip from Israel this week and an amazingly busy weekend at FBC Statesboro, I now truly understand what a ‘good tired’ is all about. I flew more than 13 hours from Tel Aviv to Atlanta on Thursday night/Friday morning, rode nearly 4 hours on the church bus home, and then conducted a wedding rehearsal that night. On Saturday, I performed two weddings, and then experienced a great day on Sunday, which included a baptism service, two sermons, a meeting during the Sunday School hour, a luncheon and mission team work session, a 2 hour meeting with the Facilities Leadership Team—all followed by the church wide Passover Seder meal that night. When I got home Sunday night, I was indeed tired, but it was a good tired.

A good tired saps you of energy & emotions, but you don’t seem to mind. It comes from doing things that you love, and there is not much that I love more than working with the people, families, and lives of the people at FBC Statesboro. Being the pastor of such a great church has brought so many blessings to my life, so I don’t mind the times when a “good tired” completely drains me. I went home Sunday night without much energy left in my tank, but I knew that I had spent it on the lives and hearts of a congregation that I love dearly. Like most people, I have experienced a “weary tired” many times before, but a “good tired” leaves a smile on your face and a peace in your heart. Long hours and multiple projects don’t seem to matter much when you are doing something that brings joy and fulfillment to your heart. Weariness and tiredness do come, even when you are doing what you love, but the recovery seems quicker and the emptying seems less taxing during a “good tired.” I had a professor and friend early in my ministry talk about how even the good work of loving and leading people will drain you and make you tired. That certainly is true, but draining yourself in the work with people that you love is just not an ordinary tired—it is indeed a good tired.