Off Days

Off days. Every pastor reading this knows exactly what I am talking about. Nobody knocks it out of the park every single Sunday, week in and week out. They can be caused by a number of things. Not connecting with the sermon, low attendance, worship being a little "off", sound issues, etc. There are several other reasons why we experience these days. We hate them, do our bests to avoid them and even blame them on the devil!!! I am the worlds worst at complaining about those "off days". My wife is the best at helping me focus on the positives of the day at not on all of the small things that didn't quite go as expected in my mind. This week I was thinking about "off days" and I have begun a practice that will help me get over it. I measure an "off day" to another "off day". Let me explain. I try to journal things that happen in my life whether good or bad. (Things that the Lord has spoken to me, a random thought, things that the kids did that day, the good and BAD things that happened at church) When i have an "off day", I get the journal out and I ask myself two simple questions, "Was today's off day better than last years off day? Better than last months off day?" Most of the time the answer is yes! That is a great way for me to measure progress, not just all of the good stuff we pastors like to celebrate. Anyone care to share some thoughts about "off days"?