Hi, my name is Pete Gazzaro. I want to welcome you today to the emotionally healthy leader

podcast. So good to be with you. And today our topic is staying grounded when the ground keeps moving.

And how do we remain grounded when things around us just keep shifting so rapidly. We are in the midst of

another wave of COVID-19. These are very disorienting days. We are at the end of year two,

going into year three. I've been talking to pastors from around the country and repeatedly hearing a

similar refrain of discouragement, exhaustion, tiredness, a bit of bewilderment. I mean, the changes

that are happening in the church and the economy and the workplace and the wider culture and relationships.

It's dizzying. And it very much feels like the ground is moving under our feet. But when we consider

the world and world history and current events, even in our generation, this isn't anything

that new. Just think of the wars in Syria and

Iraq, for example, or the political turmoil in places like Haiti and world wars in Asia and Europe,

North Africa, the fall of Rome and other empires over the last couple of thousand years. And let me share with you

that I believe we're very much in a sacred time and a sacred space as the church. In fact,

that you're in a sacred time and a sacred space in this season in which we find ourselves under

great pressure. And the word there in Greek is

thalipsis, you know, pressure, great pressure. It's found throughout the New Testament, but

especially in the book of Revelation. And there are two invitations that I believe God has for us

in these days. The first is to become like a dead man or woman.

And I'm going to share with you a famous story from one of the Desert Fathers.

I think there's some parallel for us today. The second invitation is to stay at your post.

And I'm going to ground that invitation from the Book of Revelation.

Again, getting a long-term, larger perspective of what God might be doing so that we remain steadfast and firm, not growing discouraged.

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