Lent 16

INFP

I have done numerous personality assessments, largely due to the fact that I am involved in professional ministry. Dealing with people means you need to learn who you are and that will help you better relate. According the Myers Briggs Personal Inventory, I am an introverted, intuitive, feeling, perceiver.

It is weekends like this that I realize that I am wholeheartedly an introvert. I have taken some knocks on this point, particularly in CPE, as my peers and co-workers have been concerned how I will lead a church and committees and interact with others if I am so introverted. My answer has always been that I am not painfully shy, I just need to recharge inwardly and personally. I do not draw my strength and energy from the crowds like my extroverted brothers and sisters. I am drained by the crowd and have to power down to recharge.

There were so many things I felt like I could have been doing the last couple of days, but I chose to power down instead. I watched movies and took naps. I read a little. But all the while, I had to fight the voices telling me I was being lazy. The world around us often tells us that we have to be go-go-go or we aren't being productive members of society, but a relaxing, introverted Saturday is what gives me the recharge for the next day of busy. And I take comfort in the fact that I am almost more than certain that Jesus was in introvert too. What did he do when he got a chance? He went away, by himself, or with his closest friends who built him up and helped him rather than drained him of his energy. That's where I saw God this weekend...in the grace to give myself a pass and let myself rest.