Summer Playlist | Track 03

When it comes to summer lovin', I certainly relish some sweet solitude, preferably with a mug of hot tea or an iced Coca Cola in hand. An added bonus? The sound of ocean waves rushing in and out from the shore. An admitted introvert who extroverts professionally, time away from peopling feeds my soul. But I've also discovered the value of sitting alongside another woman or two who offers the gift of understanding.

• Understanding the demands and nuances that ministry lifestyle brings.

• Understanding when the struggle is real, trying to do God's work while also loving His people.

• Understanding that, even though the People believe the Preacher is perfect, he's also a human and sometimes pushes my buttons (and I push his).

My husband and I are in our 28th year of full-time evangelistic ministry, which means I've often sat at a diner table with yet another plate of Mexican-dive enchiladas in front of me with "the pastor and his wife", or lingered in the altar with the youth pastor; chatted in the women's bathroom with the worship pastor. I have listened, leaned in when she speaks. And with a relatively high percentage rate I can assure you, most ministry wives would benefit from receiving some of the "I see you's" they're so liberally giving out from someone who just 'gets it'.

But because of the demand on her schedule, the ever-explosive family calendar, the church calendar to fulfill, and a little less emotional reserve to spare, she runs away from, instead of running toward, connection with other ministry wives. It's just one more thing she doesn't feel is worth it.

Let me tell you, I feel you on this one. More peopling? I'll pass. And yet each time I require myself to engage in authentic connection with "one of us", I always walk away with gratitude in my heart, renewed hope for the call of God and work that it brings, the relief that laughter brings to the day's tension, and someone I can call for the next emotional emergency. I make myself go. And it always pays off.

At Sanctuary we'll promote on-purpose connection opportunities over these next few months, with several Let's Connect events taking place across the nation throughout the month of June.

What's Let's Connect?

Let's Connect events are casual lunch, brunch, or dinner gatherings designed for interaction, laughs, fun, and connection with ministry wives who live and serve near you, once per quarter. There's no service schedule, no class to teach, no volunteers to coordinate--just you and other ministry wives who get together for dinner, some great conversation, and maybe some dessert, just to sweeten the deal. [more details here]

Find some way to put connection with a ministry wife who lives nearby on your summer schedule. It won't happen if you don't. But girl, it's so worth it. You're worth it.

Summer Playlist, Track 03: Let's Get Together