Messy Advice For Those Who Care | Ditch the Guilt, Not the Care
Description
Today's question: "How do I show up for others without always feeling like I'm responsible for fixing everything? "
Your messy adviser, Johan, dives into the tangled world of caregiving, boundaries, and church casseroles, serving up both statistics and a sprinkling of humour for everyone who’s felt the pressure to love their neighbour—sometimes before their morning coffee! With a nod to Stats Canada and a fresh look at how even Jesus navigated urgent needs, this conversation explores the tension between genuine care and the myth that you have to do it all. Whether you’ve ever offered to help without knowing what you were getting into or just need a little encouragement to set the casserole down once in a while, this Summer Speedos edition offers a meaningful-yet-light-hearted reflection for all who care a little too much.
CareImpact Podcast Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19rkPGbD7C/
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Johan Heinrichs [00:00:00]:
This one's for everyone who's ever wondered, can I love my neighbor without making them a casserole? Because let's be honest, church culture sometimes makes it feel like the most sacred spiritual act is signing up for a meal train before your coffee even kicks in. Welcome to Messy Advice for People Who Care, a summer series from Journey with Care to anyone who's ever said yes before thinking it through and then wondering what they just signed up for. We're talking about caregiving, boundaries, burnout, and the not so clear moments of loving others well, minus the formulas. This is Johan on the edge of helpful because someone has to answer the hard questions, and apparently it's me. We've all felt the weight of care, whether it's in ministry, family, work, or just trying to be a decent human being. And sometimes that weight turns into something we were never meant to carry. Today's question gets right into the heart of that tension. How do I show up for others without always feeling like I'm responsible for fixing everything? Now that's a big one, and, honestly, a lot of us are asking the same thing.
Johan Heinrichs [00:01:11]:
According to Stats Canada, nearly one in four Canadians, that's around 8,000,000 people, provided some form of unpaid caregiving, and more than half of them reported feeling tired, anxious, or overwhelmed by it. So, yeah, statistically speaking, if you're feeling overwhelmed, it might just mean that you're doing life in Canada correctly. But let's zoom in on what it actually feels like. Now my first piece of advice would be delete the phrase, just let me know if you need anything from your vocabulary. It's vague, passive, and emotionally loaded. And if you do let them know, you're probably gonna panic. Picture this. You're in the church lobby after service.
Johan Heinrichs [00:01:54]:
Someone shares that they're having a hard week. You nod, smile, and suddenly feel that pressure building. Should I offer help? Should I bring a meal? Should I be doing more? That moment, that's compassion spiked with panic and seasoned with a little savior complex. We've all felt it. It's the quiet assumption that love equals action equals fixing equals exhaustion. But does it? Let's get biblical. Biblical. This brought me back to Mark one.
Johan Heinrichs [00:02:28]:
Jesus had been healing the sick, casting out demons, meeting real urgent needs, and the crowds are still pressing in. And the next morning, Jesus disappears. The disciples go on a full manhunt. And when they finally find him withdrawn from the crowd and praying, they say, everyone's looking for you. And Jesus says, well, let's go somewhere else. You see, Jesus doesn't rush to meet every need. He doesn't react to that pressure that was put on him. He chooses what's next, not out of guilt, but out of purpose.
Johan Heinrichs [00:03:04]:
That's not indifference, it's clarity. Jesus shows us that love isn't always about doing more. Sometimes it's about doing what's right and letting go of the rest. So maybe the question for you isn't, am I doing enough? Maybe it's, am I doing what's mine to do? This week, try showing up in love, but with honesty, not from guilt and not from pressure. And if that sounds impossible, maybe that's where the spirit meets us, in the pause between urgency and obligation. Love becomes more sustainable when it's guided by purpose, not pressure. And, hey, if that hits close to home, you're not alone. These aren't just questions that we ask on the mic.
Johan Heinrichs [00:03:47]:
They're the kind that live in the background of a lot of care filled lives. And if you wanna join the conversation, come join us on the Care Impact podcast group on Facebook. Until next time, keep loving, keep laughing, and set the casserole down unless it's already in the oven, in which case, bless you and remember to stay curious.
