Battling Burnout: Rest and Renewal...A Modern Parable
Ellen was a dedicated social media activist, tirelessly campaigning for environmental causes. Her posts exposing corporate polluters regularly went viral, and she had become the face of the movement. For years, she worked around the clock, managing online campaigns, coordinating protests, and challenging powerful interests.
One day, after a particularly grueling battle against a major corporation that had been dumping toxic waste, Ellen felt utterly depleted. The corporation had unleashed an army of online trolls and bots to discredit her. Though she had won the fight, forcing the company to clean up its act, Ellen felt defeated.
Overwhelmed by exhaustion and facing threats from anonymous sources, Ellen deleted all her social media accounts and fled to a small cabin in the woods, far from cell towers and Wi-Fi signals. There, she collapsed into a deep sleep.
When she awoke, Ellen found a note pinned to her door. "Walk to the stream," it read. Curious, she followed a path through the woods until she reached a babbling brook. There, she found a basket containing fresh bread and cool, clear water from the stream. Ellen ate and drank, then fell asleep again by the water's edge.
This pattern repeated for several days. Each time Ellen awoke, she found nourishment waiting for her, left by an unseen caretaker. Gradually, her strength returned, and she noticed the beauty around her – the songbirds, the rustling leaves, the play of sunlight on water.
On the seventh day, Ellen heard a gentle voice: "Ellen, what are you doing here?"
She poured out her heart: "I've given everything I have to save the planet. But for every victory, there are a dozen new battles. The corruption seems endless. I'm tired. I feel alone."
The voice replied, "You are not alone. But you've been so focused on the storms that you've forgotten to listen for the quiet whispers of hope. Go back. There are others like you, more than you know. Find them. Empower them. Your work isn't over, but neither are you meant to carry this burden alone."
Encouraged, Ellen returned to her cabin. She found her old laptop and, with renewed purpose, began writing. But this time, instead of angry exposés, she shared stories of hope – of communities coming together, of innovative solutions, of small victories that were adding up.
She started a new social media account, not as a solo crusader, but as part of a collective. She connected with other activists, sharing her experience and wisdom. Together, they created a network of support, ensuring that when one grew weary, others could step up.
Ellen learned to pace herself, to find joy in the journey, and to celebrate each small step toward their shared goal. She discovered that by nurturing her spirit and connecting with others, she could sustain her passion without burning out.
Years later, Ellen would look back on her time in the woods as a turning point. She had gone in feeling defeated and emerged with a new understanding: that true change comes not from frantic activity, but from a place of inner peace and collective strength. The environmental movement she helped nurture became more resilient and effective than ever, fueled not by the exhausting fire of a single flame, but by the steady, enduring light of many candles burning together.
We are called to fight, but we are also called to eat, drink and sleep. Listen to the Savior when he says, "What are you doing here? REST for awhile!"
About The Author
Dr. Bill Young is an elder at the Danville SDA church and a professor at Eastern Kentucky University. Having a long-term background in prehospital emergency medicine, he has seen the worst that this world has to offer. In doing so, he has found that turning to the scriptures is a very real refuge. He enjoys exploring the history and geography of Israel during the time that Jesus walked the land.