The title is taken from a scripture verse:

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

The Bible – Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)

Another rendering of this verse puts it like this:

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit.

The Message Bible

In the -often overlapping- worlds of community development, social action, social justice, walking with the poor, marginalised and so on, one can definitely get weary in well doing.

Depending on your context, seeing a ‘harvest’, signs of sustainable transformation, facilitating change and so on, can be difficult. It is a slow burn, and in general, you need to be in it for the long-haul. Having made peace with the fact that you may not see the hoped-for change within your time frame or time in whatever position you are currently occupying.

GoodTherapy.org

Becoming weary in well doing, or to the more extreme end of the spectrum, experiencing compassion fatigue is most definitely a potential hazard.

So how does one try to avoid becoming weary?

I do not have a one size fits all formula, but will share three suggestions:

  1. Learn to master the art of celebrating the small things.
  2. Value the Principle of the One. The 1s and 2s whose lives you can (and do) make some tangible difference in. – A principle that can be illustrated by the Starfish Story.
  3. Remember what Tesco’s (UK Supermarket chain) says,

Every little helps.

The history of Tesco’s slogan

~ Optional extras:

  • This theme, ‘do not weary in well doing’ was also the basis of this week’s Thursday Thought. If interested you can watch it below or on instagram
  • Other English renderings of the Bible verse Galatians 6:9

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