Personal Wellness Blog
by Shawn Maassel
Churchwork and ministry life can be very challenging, maybe even traumatic for some.
When I was studying to be a physical therapist, our PT class visited the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Shock Trauma unit. We saw extensive injuries in their most acute stage. But my strongest memory from that observation was the unit’s break room.
In the staff break room we watched staff members chat and even joke about some of the situations they were managing on the trauma floor with their patients. What at first seemed appalling was soon evidently sustaining and even healing. These trusted confidants could glean and share light moments from their darkest experiences, elevating moods and releasing pent up frustrations. Jokes and barbs helped them cope and even refreshed them for their next shifts. They weren’t laughing at the expense of patients or families and assured us that they would never speak in front of families the way they felt free to do so in this private area. Instead, this gift of laughter released anxiety and lifted the burden of injury and death from their hearts, allowing them to refocus and continue on.
I too was grateful for the gift of laughter and a co-worker to share it with during my years on our church staff. For over 20 years I had a comrade in ministry, a trusted confidant, who laughed (and cried and commiserated) with me. Her faithful prayers and our ability to laugh together helped me endure everything from minor frustrations to the consequences of significant mistakes. After initial feelings of frustration, we were able to laugh over “not my job”situations, shared-space issues, applicants for hire, mice, snakes and many other issues.
Scripture assures us there is a time for laughter (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Sarah’s original laughter of doubt changed to joyous laughter at the birth of Isaac. (Genesis 21:6) In Psalm 126 Israel rejoices with laughter as God restores them. The godly woman in Proverbs 31 is able to laugh off what the future holds. Laughter can be a healing gift from God.
SED conferences are great opportunities to meet with trusted colleagues and find rest in sharing, commiserating, and even laughing about situations and issues that are getting us down. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith describes the need for 7 different types of rest in her book, Sacred Rest. One of those, Social Rest, is spending time with people who are life-giving and authentic, rather than draining. Laughter is part of this.
Having someone in your life more regularly who can give you those healthy venting opportunities is an even more precious gift. I pray that you have or will soon find this someone.
I have a project in mind and would love to collect your stories – identifying names withheld or changed – of finding humor in the day-to-day stresses of ministry life. If you would like to share with me, please reach out at smaassel@comcast.net.
Shawn Maassel retired after 25 years as DCE at First Lutheran Church & Little Lambs Preschool (Huntingtown, MD) in December, 2024. In addition to volunteering at FLC & LLPS, she leads fitness classes for Body & Soul Fitness® and Bible studies with First Place 4 Health. She enjoys time with her husband and traveling to visit their long-distance children and grandsons. Follow her other blogs and posts at: inhiscourts.com and on YouTube.