‘Crowds gathered to hear Jesus’ teaching and be healed, but he would go into the desert…’ (Luke 5:15-16). A key to understanding burnout-as-emotional-exhaustion – ‘overhelpfulness’ (sometimes so helpers can feel good…). What happens in deserts? Nothing. The best thing we can do for some people is leave them alone to help themselves…

Evangelicals, note: for Jesus sometimes something’s more important than ‘teaching’. Charismatics/Pentecostals note: for Jesus sometimes something’s more important than healing. Jesus left the crowds untaught/ignorant and unhealed/sick to do something more important. His life was in balance, eh?

In theological college 50 years ago I asked an innocent question – but as often happens, it was interpreted as impertinent: when Jesus was in the desert conversing with the Devil (the Temptations) or his Father (in prayer) would a tape-recorder have picked up anything? For non-Westerners accustomed to silence/solitude this is a nonsense question…

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

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