This summer, I had to stop—figuratively, that is.
As you saw in my post from last week (read here), there has been some discernment and regrounding taking place in my life. I was tired, teetering on the edge of burnout. At first, I couldn’t name why. It wasn’t just the busyness or trying to “do all the things.” It was that I was doing them without a clear why.
You know me:
I love building authentic community. I love running. I love the role genuine faith plays in my life. I care deeply about inclusion, grace, and healthy living. But over time, I realized I was doing it all without a greater vision guiding me.
Learning from the Church
When I first began serving at my current church, we went through a visioning process. I remember in that process the visioning mentor we worked with,
, sharing this video.That vision we came to discern became our compass. It reshaped our leadership, our ministry, and the way we made decisions. The congregation needed this direction, this purpose behind what we were doing together. We needed something to vet things against when we were discerning ministries and activities as a church community.
As I have watched this unfold—and been a part of this holy work—I realized I needed the same thing in my personal life. A compass. A way to discern whether what I was doing lined up with who God was calling me to be.
Why I Stepped Back
So, I stopped, and I am sure many of you have noticed.
I stopped podcasting (it’s resting, not dead).
I stopped posting here on Substack (again RESTING haha).
I even pulled back from social media (well, posting—doomscrolling still very much alive…maybe the occasional post).
I needed space to reorient myself. To understand how all the pieces—human, husband, father, pastor, runner, podcaster, writer, empath, ALL THE THINGS—fit together.
And I realized I needed what I call churches to create: identity, vision, values, guiding principles. Not just for “The RunninRev.” Not just for “Pastor Andrew.” But for ANDREW—the human being God loves and calls. I needed to define myself, and then allow those other roles to take identity around my human nature and give me direction.
Naming Who I Am
I began by identifying myself—as a human and individual:
I am Andrew Ware:
I am beloved by God, becoming whole, called to cultivate movement, reflection, and belonging. I live not from role or performance, but from grace. I lead, love, and listen in rhythm with Christ.
Then I identified different aspects of who I am (mostly the major ones—this is by no means exhaustive):
I am a Husband and Father:
Rooted in love, grounded in presence. My family is sacred, and we walk together toward joy, resilience, and wholeness, all held in the love of Christ.
I am The RunninRev
I embody a life where faith is not confined to pews, wellness is not individualistic, and justice is not optional. I am forging a path for those who are burnt out, disillusioned, or stuck—showing that renewal is possible in the rhythm of breath, prayer, and forward movement.
I am a Pastor
Called, not titled. I lead with presence, not perfection. I hold space where grace is encountered and lives are honored. I preach as much with my life as with my words, and I walk with others toward wholeness, always in step with Christ who first called me.
My Vision and Values
Grounded in these identities, I began to hear God’s call and see a vision:
My life—my ministry—is to see a world where grace is embodied, rest is honored, and every person moves toward wholeness in community.
This isn’t about being lofty or pious. It’s about honesty. Without vision, I felt like a boat drifting—getting work done, but without direction for where I was going. With vision, I feel I have a compass. Core values, that direct my path, and hopefully, keep me pointed in the right direction. For whatever the road ahead holds for myself, my family, my minsitry as a pastor and the RunninRev, I know that I am being held together by this nature.
These values being:
Embodied Grace — God’s grace moves through us—through our bodies, our breath, our rhythms. I value spiritual practices that are lived, not just believed.
Authenticity Over Appearance — My worth is not what I produce. I will show up as I am, not as who I think others want me to be.
Rooted, Not Rigid — My progressive Wesleyan theology anchors me, but I remain open to mystery, doubt, and the wisdom of others.
Community Before Conversion — I choose presence over persuasion. Belonging is the starting point, not the reward.
Rest is Resistance — In a world of burnout, I will protect space for rest, stillness, and recovery—for myself and those I serve.
Wholeness Over Hustle — My body, brain, and soul are not machines. I will move toward integration, not perfection.
Where This Leads
In some ways, I’m still discerning how this vision will take shape. But here’s what I know: I want to use spaces like Substack, podcasting, Discord, and social media to create community that’s authentic, sustainable, and life-giving. Ensuring that my presence there is feeding that vision through those core values, offering me the assurance that the work I am doing is the places I have been called.
So, let’s take this journey together. Let’s build a presence that’s whole and grounded in grace.
And here’s where you come in: while this is my personal vision for who I feel called to be, I believe this work is also meant to build up others. That means you—the community around me—play a crucial role. I’d love to hear from you:
What resonates with this vision?
What kinds of reflections, conversations, or content would help you live into grace, rest, and wholeness?
How do you want to experience this vision with me?
Reply here, drop me a note, or share your thoughts in community. I don’t want to just cast a vision—I want to walk it with you.
*Seriously I want to hear from you—drop a comment or send me an email
