Hi, Christopher. First, I hear you. And I mean "yes, I agree with you" and I hear you. You're an incredible person, colleague and pastor ,,, and Its almost a relief to hear you say that, like me, you love what you do, but, especially perhaps as we are a few years into this incredible journey we call ministry, it is sometimes overwhelming. Sometimes its too many "big" things .. but sometimes its just in the realm of the straw that broke the camel's back. And, I suspect like you, I preach self-care to the folks Im walking with. And I strive to be forgiving and affirming when they need to take that nap at the stern of the boat.... But I too often stink! at following my own council ... especially when the established. often public persona, image of Pastor stands in the way of my being the "real and struggling" human, Christian, that I am. (thanks Rev. Michelle!) Thank you for sharing that you too sometimes just need to get off the merry-go-round! Breath, Chris.. Breath, all the folks who came to this space to "take a break"... and I'll see you, refreshed, I pray, back on one of the fancy steeds, on the next turn around the carousel! Prayers and grace, C.
Not telling the pastor is one of the worst congregational behaviors there is, for a couple reasons. First of all, it's rude. Second, it's revealing: it reveals members who are engaged with nothing more than having their name on a list and having a place to go that satisfies their needs for tradition. Third, it reveals a lack of faith, a lack of spiritual engagement, a lack of knowing the basics of Christianity: community and caring. It doesn't say or imply anything about the pastor. It says more than we want to acknowledge: that Christian faith is irrelevant to them.
Hi, Christopher. First, I hear you. And I mean "yes, I agree with you" and I hear you. You're an incredible person, colleague and pastor ,,, and Its almost a relief to hear you say that, like me, you love what you do, but, especially perhaps as we are a few years into this incredible journey we call ministry, it is sometimes overwhelming. Sometimes its too many "big" things .. but sometimes its just in the realm of the straw that broke the camel's back. And, I suspect like you, I preach self-care to the folks Im walking with. And I strive to be forgiving and affirming when they need to take that nap at the stern of the boat.... But I too often stink! at following my own council ... especially when the established. often public persona, image of Pastor stands in the way of my being the "real and struggling" human, Christian, that I am. (thanks Rev. Michelle!) Thank you for sharing that you too sometimes just need to get off the merry-go-round! Breath, Chris.. Breath, all the folks who came to this space to "take a break"... and I'll see you, refreshed, I pray, back on one of the fancy steeds, on the next turn around the carousel! Prayers and grace, C.
Not telling the pastor is one of the worst congregational behaviors there is, for a couple reasons. First of all, it's rude. Second, it's revealing: it reveals members who are engaged with nothing more than having their name on a list and having a place to go that satisfies their needs for tradition. Third, it reveals a lack of faith, a lack of spiritual engagement, a lack of knowing the basics of Christianity: community and caring. It doesn't say or imply anything about the pastor. It says more than we want to acknowledge: that Christian faith is irrelevant to them.