by: Rev. Jim Keat
“I hope your day is…”
I paused for a moment as I was making my way down to my office in the basement. My wife was pouring a cup of coffee and preparing for her day.
“…fulfilling.”
I hesitated because my default word didn’t feel right. I would typically say “I hope your day is productive,” but today that default instinct felt off. Why let my success by measured by how much is produced? (And more importantly, why is that my default metric?!)
I recently completed a Bible study series on the entire book of Leviticus (exciting, right?). The final session brought us to the reminder to practice sabbath as more than just taking Saturdays off but even letting the land, property, and debts rest and reset. And while this “Year of Jubilee” was likely never practiced, it is an aspiration that reminds us that our worth is more than what we produce. We are, after all, human beings, not human doings.
When it comes to setting a goal, I’ll choose fulfillment over productivity every time. And yes, sometimes being productive is fulfilling but there are plenty of times when the intentionally non-productive choice is the path to fulfillment!
Take a nap. Cancel a meeting. Steep a glass of iced tea. Take a walk. Read a book. Play a game. Draw a picture. Read a book. Watch a movie. Lie on the grass and find shapes in the clouds. Listen to birds. Notice your own breath.
This is necessary for everyone but is essential for pastors and faith leaders. What message are we sending when we worship the false god of productivity at the expense of our own humanity? How are we being formed when we sprint to keep up with the hustle and grind rather than follow a Jesus who knew when to avoid the crowds and rest?
When we read the stories about Jesus, we don’t see a rabbi who is always doing. They give us a Jesus who withdrew. Who sat by wells. Who fell asleep in boats. Who lingered at dinner tables long after the meal was finished. Spiritual formation — real formation — happens not just in the sermon prep and the hospital visit and the endless barrage of emails and meetings. It happens in the unhurried moments where we are simply present to God, to others, and to ourselves.
Productivity culture whispers that your value is in your output. The gospel tells a different story. You were loved before you ever accomplished a single thing. You will be loved long after the to-do list is forgotten. That is not an excuse for laziness — it is an invitation to freedom.
So the next time someone asks how your day was, I hope you can say something richer than “busy.” I hope you can say it was good. That you noticed something. That you were present to someone. That you paused long enough to remember that you are not a machine to be optimized, but a person to be loved.
I hope your day is fulfilling.
We know how it goes. Days blur into weeks, the to-do list grows faster than it shrinks, and somewhere along the way, the liturgical calendar starts moving on autopilot. You’re not failing — you’re human. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Convergence offers consulting support for faith leaders and congregations ready to catch their breath, make a hard call, or dream something genuinely new. Whether you need a thought partner, a fresh set of eyes, or a guide through a season of transition — we’re here for it.
Ready to talk? Reach out to us and let’s find a way forward together.