
Unsplash.com; Amaury Gutierrez
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. – Genesis 2:7
When I'm asked what would I tell tech directors preparing for any busy church milestone, like Easter services, the only thing I can think of is “breathe.” It's basic, it's fundamental, and it seems all too easy to forget to do--especially once Easter is upon you and the days and weeks seem to come and go all too quickly.
... don't let the purpose of the work get lost in the business of doing the work. Breathe.
With all of the bobbing and weaving from urgent need to planning meeting and back, it becomes easy to let everything fall by the wayside in order to accomplish what needs to be done. Well, do I know the draw of that siren's call, but don't let the purpose of the work get lost in the business of doing the work. Breathe.
With all of the bobbing and weaving from urgent need to planning meeting and back, it becomes easy to let everything fall by the wayside in order to accomplish what needs to be done.
I find it interesting that God chose to create man by breathing life into him. Rather than just forming him from the dust of the ground, he breathed life into Adam. Stop. Take a moment and reflect on that. God, the Creator of the universe, breathed life into man. The Bible doesn't say He did that with anything else He created—just us. Remember, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” even if the holiday prep has left you feeling terrified and awful. God has placed you in a role that not everyone is cut out for. Forget the insane hours that make you long for the obnoxious schedule you had going into the holiday. Find ways to make time to simply breathe.

As someone who has consistently failed at this, I have some suggestions to help slow down the crazy pace.
First, pray.
I know that can sound like a cop out answer, but seriously don't overlook your spiritual disciplines. One of the tools I've found helpful in forcing myself to slow down is to actually make a concerted effort to pray. I did this by sending emails to all the tech directors I know, locally and all over the country. I sent them a little note of encouragement, and I let them know I was praying for them and their churches. Then in the week or two leading up to Easter, I would sit down with my list and pray for each one, because I told them I would. Left to my own accord, I would have forgotten to pray throughout the holiday, but because I committed to praying for these guys, I made certain to follow through.
One of the tools I've found helpful in forcing myself to slow down is to actually make a concerted effort to pray.
Second, make time for your family.
Obviously, the hours surrounding the weeks leading up to your Easter service don't lend themselves to lots of family time. What I found helpful was starting traditions with my wife for during this busy production season. The day or two leading up to our productions my wife and I would stay up late baking cookies and other treats for my volunteers. My church would typically schedule a pretty insane amount of services, and many of my volunteers would spend days on end at the church. This little tradition ensured that my wife and I had some dedicated time together, but also made sure my volunteers were aware of how much I appreciated their time and dedication.
And third, see what other techies do to stay sane during busy production times like Easter.
There are tons of people who have been doing this professional tech thing over the holidays for years, and most of them will have suggestions about how they handle it. Strike up friendships locally and via email with other tech directors and allow them to speak into your situation and see what they do. Then cherry-pick the good ideas, and find ways to make them work for you.
When the holidays get crazy, spend some time in quiet contemplation. I usually turn to some of my favorite verses about this, like Exodus 31. The whole chapter reminds me of what the biblical standard is for the people who currently do the job of creating the space for God to occupy. Let it be a reminder that encourages you in your work.