Hang on to the Good Stuff

Being a pastor in today's world is more difficult than it used to be.  I think about how much has changed in ministry since I began.  I sometimes wonder if people realize this.   There are times when as being a pastor it is very painful and lonely.  I think this is why so many pastors burn out or have heart attacks.  It is why pastor's families struggle in a more quietly than most. 

So this manna is for pastors.  The rest of you just sit quietly.  Pray quietly.  Or maybe you might pray for  your own pastor.

It is Sunday morning (before the service).  Geez it IS Sunday morning.  Sunday school teachers call in sick or even worse, just fail to show.  "We have company...." (There is an invisible sign somewhere on the church property that says, "Company cannot attend worship!")  The Junior Highs need a teacher so you are supposed to be ready to teach (or your spouse).  The tenor section of the choir  (both  of them) have decided it is a good day to visit somewhere else or somebody else.  You can sing so you will move over to the choir loft when it is time to sing.  There are ten people who think that they need to make an announcement.  So the announcements could technically be fifteen minutes.  There are three people who have told you what was left out of the bulletin or pointed out the mistakes that are in the bulletin.  Ms. ???? (you fill in the name) is upset because you failed to visit her relative/friend/spouse in the nursing home.   (Her relative/friend/spouse has Alzheimer's and cannot report to her that you did visit her within the last two weeks).  The chair of two committees  feel the need to talk to you about their area prior to the service.  There are three new families entering which you try to get to speak to before the service to welcome them. They have sat in Mr _____'s pew and he has chewed them out and asked them to move. The flowers have been shown to have one of the following deficiencies--too small, wrong color, too large, or in the wrong place.  The acolytes cannot get the wick to work.    

So it is now time for worship to begin.

Worship begins late because you cannot get away from Mr _____.  He is telling you about his fishing trip last Sunday.  Ms **** (you fill in the name) took five minutes to make her announcement--all of which was already printed in the bulletin insert. (There are five inserts because everybody needs an insert for their cause)  The prelude lasted eight minutes.  The children's sermon was ten minutes.  You know that you will begin preaching with forty five minutes of the service having passed.  There is another service or Sunday school immediately behind this one.   The microphone is buzzing and making weird noises because someone thought it was a good time to adjust something.  There is a wasp winging its way around the pulpit area. It is obvious that at least two people did not sleep well during the night as they continue to yawn and do the infamous head bob.  (One can interpret this as an silent "Amen!" to your sermon, they will never know.) Two cell phones go off during the service. One of them is answered (!!) and a conversation is carried on as the person in the choir ducks out.

After church when you are exhausted.

Ms ***** tells you that it was too cold.  Ms. ****** complains that it was too hot.  Another three people come by to tell you that there were errors in the bulletin, your grammar, your reading, your robe, your tie, your shoes, your children, and yes--even your spouse.   You go to leave only to discover that no one else has thought to turn off the AC/Heater, the coffee pot, the lights, etc.

Then as you are about to walk out the door, there is one person standing there.  The middle aged man has waited patiently to see you.  He looks at you and says quietly, "I know you are probably in a hurry and tired, but I want you to know that your sermon changed my life today.  It gave me hope that life--my life--is in the hands of God.  Jesus is both my friend and Savior.  Thanks!"   And with that he walks away.

The good stuff comes in small doses. 

Hold on the good stuff.  It will keep you safe from all the other.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,


Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
www.midweekmanna.com
www.stlukesimpson.org