Assasin of the Headless Sprinting Chicken

Over the past month, all of the new staff members from church have been going through a Catalyst book study. So far, we have read about engaging in culture, the importance of community, and living a healthy lifestyle. I have read a lot of things that have caused me to re-evaluate my ministry and personal life.

Today, I read an article by Mike Foster (founder of XXX church). In the article, he talks about seven deadly assassins that can reak havic on your life. There are things like sex, money, egos, and emotional baggage, but the one they focus on is something they call the "Assassin of the Headless Sprinting Chicken". It is the idea of the leader who is constantly juggling too many plates and trying to do too many things at the workplace. The leader who is insistent on always putting in the long hours and pushing harder. We work ourselves to death because we find value and worth in the things we do and accomplish. I know I can relate to this, as I am sure we all can! The problem is that if we continue down this path, we are on the road to being "slain by the Assassin of the Headless Sprinting Chicken". We work ourselves so hard that we become burnt out or worse yet we compromise our relationships with the people who are most important to us.

Here are a few tips Mike gives:
1. Manage life in seasons - It is ok to go through seasons where the afterburners are on full force. Work hard, but also rest hard.
2. Stop Trying to Prove Yourself - Do you work yourself to death because failure is just not an option? Are you leading an out-of-control life so that you never have to feel embarrassed, weak, or lower than others in your workplace? Your value is not determined by the amount of hours you work. We aren't asked to be workaholics.
3. Take a technology break - If you don't think you have a problem with being glued to your cell phone, email, facebook, or twitter, try turning it off for 48 hours.

Is it worth compromising your marriage or ripping off your kids just because you have to juggle every plate and become all things to all people? Is it worth compromising your time with God just because there are too many other tasks going on to take time for Him? What are your willing to give up just to prove yourself to someone or are you willing to just stop trying to prove yourself and accept that you have worth value beyond the number of hours you can spend behind a desk? Try slowing down every once in a while. I know we all need it!