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REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY! BY COMMISSIONER DONNA IGLEHEART Last evening, as I sat in my favorite chair at home sipping hot chocolate while watching the first of many Hallmark Christmas movies, I was surprised to hear the carol “Joy to the World” featured in the film. “Repeat the sounding joy,” the melody whispered, and I pondered what those words truly mean in our hurried world. You see, just that morning I had rushed through my usual routine: answering emails, checking lists, attending meetings, planning holiday gatherings, and putting a neat bow on the last ”to-dos” for the final days of 2024. It’s easy to get lost in the noise of the world and neglect the opportunity to “repeat the sounding joy” of Christ in our everyday conversation with others. I’m reminded of our founder William Booth’s enduring Christmas Eve message to his officers. That one-word message of “Others” was more impactful than a lengthy liturgical writing for his tired and weary officers to receive. Stated simply: “Others.” In our modern world of instant notifications and endless commitments, Booth’s words ring truer than ever: let others be our mission. Let others be our purpose, and let others be our all-consuming passion. Each time we repeat the sounding joy, we’re not just singing words; we are recommitting to this sacred purpose.
I think about that humble manger scene and how it stands in stark contrast to our world of digital displays and twinkling light shows. In that simple stable, the breath of heaven touched earth. The King of Kings chose not a palace but a manger, not royal robes but swaddling clothes. When I “repeat the sounding joy,” I am reminded that true joy often comes wrapped in humility. The amazing truth is that this same Jesus, who entered our world in such modest circumstances, brought with Him the most extravagant gift of all: eternal life. As The Living Bible beautifully states in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world this much: He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.” It is this transformative love that we, as an Army of God, are called to share with others. No matter the trials we face, no matter the burdens we carry, the Christmas message compels us to fix our eyes on the salvation that has been freely offered to all who believe. Have you opened your hands to receive this gift for yourself? We cannot ignore the reality that this season can often find us longing for peace and desperate for good news. Whatever concerns occupy your heart, may you find true peace by placing your faith in our Savior, Christ the Lord. For truly, it is only through this salvation that you can experience the fullness of joy. This season, as we gather with loved ones and share precious moments, let’s remember why we repeat the sounding joy. It’s not just a
phrase in a beloved carol—it is our testimony to the world. Each act of kindness, each cuddle with a grandchild, each moment spent serving others, and each prayer spoken becomes our partnership with the angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14). As I share this, I’m reminded that the most profound messages often come in gentle ways. This Christmas, may we each find our own way to “repeat the sounding joy,” not necessarily in grand gestures, but in faithful hearts turned toward the miracle in the manger. Let us be like those first shepherds who, having seen the Christ child, could not help but share their joy with others. May our lives echo their wonder and their worship as we give ourselves fully to Him and to others. In doing so, we help the world see clearly what Christmas truly means. Together, let us repeat the sounding joy, knowing that each time we do, we celebrate anew the greatest gift ever given: Emmanuel, God with us.
Holiday Burnout and Other Terrifying Tales BY DR. IAN MUDGE It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As the world gathers to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Salvation Army officers, employees, and volunteers are mobilizing to meet the needs of their communities and to raise money to support their mission year-round. Regardless of season, the mission of the Army demands that we are continuously busy meeting the needs of the least and the lost. Though deeply important and often extremely fulfilling, the demands of this work can instill a deep exhaustion only exacerbated by the busyness of the Christmas season. Burnout is always knocking on the door, seeking to drain us of the joy that should be associated with the good news of the birth of our Savior. The term “burnout” is often thrown around in Army circles, typically referring to the exhaustion that comes with long work weeks and the emotional demands of our mission. Most do not realize that burnout is actually a clinical term that goes much deeper than simply being tired. Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion, often accompanied by a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of
personal identity. Burnout is a lot scarier than it sounds. Research has found that when people burn out, they can never again perform at the same level in the same position. It is greatly saddening that people can lose their capacity to execute their calling because of a completely preventable phenomenon. The frightening reality is that burnout can happen to any of us. It happens to people who love their work, have a good self-care routine, take a Sabbath every week, and take all their vacation every year. Each of those strategies can help mitigate emotional exhaustion, but that is only one facet that contributes to burnout. Research has found that burnout consists of three parts: emotional exhaustion, lack of personal accomplishment, and depersonalization. Emotional Exhaustion Across the Army, we are all aligned in our mission of serving suffering humanity. That mission is emotionally demanding and places a lot of pressure on us to serve even when we would prefer to rest. From research I have conducted with officers across the country, pretty much every officer struggles with exhaustion on some level. Emotional exhaustion is a result of excessive demands and continuous stress over an extended period of time. To be an effective officer, you are likely to face excessive demands and
continuous stress, so some level of emotional exhaustion is a given. This by itself is not particularly worrying, but the risk of burnout rises as we add in the compounding factors of personal accomplishment and depersonalization. Lack of Personal Accomplishment During the busy Christmas season, it is easy to lose sight of the purpose of our work. During long work weeks, it can be difficult to remember that every dollar raised in the kettle is symbolic of the amazing work we will do to help people throughout the year. It is easy to lose sight of our mission and feel that the work we are doing does little to further the Kingdom of God. It is during these times that we are at the highest risk of burnout. We need to shift our mindset to augment our feelings of personal accomplishment, taking appropriate credit for the work we are doing to advance the Kingdom. Depersonalization When we do not feel that we are accomplishing God’s call on our lives and are feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, it is easy to become cynical and push back on the work we are being asked to do. Depersonalization is this negative, callous, or detached response to the demands of our work. It is a defense mechanism we “Holiday Burnout...” continued on page 4