On My Mind...
Wow, thank you for a wonderful evening last night. Yes, thank you for the “love offering,” but much more than that, thank you for the kind words offered in both testimony and in the many cards we received. Thank you for acknowledging Rheadon, without her, I am not who I am, and I could not do what I do. She is, indeed, a gift from God and a helper fit for me (Genesis 2:18). I also appreciate Jerry’s acknowledging our children. Often folks do not understand the pressure place on “the pastor’s kids.” Also, the fact that pastors sometimes are forced to miss important events because of a need within the church. While I’ve done my best not to sacrifice my family for the ministry, sacrifices have been made and I’m grateful my family understood and accepted that. Life in ministry is hard. Like Paul, I can say, “My body bears the scars of ministry.” Thankfully, mine are internal rather than external. I’ve not been shipwrecked, beaten with rods, stoned and left for dead but I’ve been wounded in heart and soul. I’ve carried the burden of my love for you for 3 and a half decades. My job isn’t any harder than anyone else’s. It’s just a different kind of hard. It’s not the difficulty of physical labor, it’s not the stress of managing large budgets, deadlines and personnel issues, it’s the knowledge that I deal in the eternal. What I say or do carries eternal weight and I will one day stand before the Almighty and given an account for each of you. It is my fear that I will fail you. That I will not be there for you, that weighs heavy on me. I could not sleep the other night. I laid in bed and in my mind went through the list of folks who have gone on to glory. For an hour and a half, I recalled names, pictured faces of saints now gone who once called me pastor. I pictured my standing by bedsides as I assured some saint, “It’s okay, you can go home now,” as they breathed their last. An hour and a half, and I didn’t finish the list. Through tears I prayed, “Dear God, I pray I did not fail them.” After this many years, every funeral is for a family member. And with each service a little piece of me dies. That’s not a complaint, please don’t take that as my saying, “poor me.” It is the greatest privilege of my life to care for the flock to their final moment. I pray that I have been of some comfort to you in the loss of your loved one.
As a pastor, it also means I get to be a part of so many special moments. I get a front row seat at the birth of a child, at the wedding and times of great celebration. I have the privilege of being invited it to your most important decisions to offer counsel or advice. I am asked to pray with you in times of crisis and when making life-altering decisions. I don’t take that for granted, I prize those opportunities and consider them my highest honor. Do I have hard days, difficult days, days I want to quit? Yes! Sometimes those “days” last for weeks but I love my job. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Every week I stand before you and I see folks I’ve known all my life. Some of you, I have no memory of life without you. You knew my parents and you knew me before I knew me. Others I’ve known since my childhood. Tammy didn’t go back far enough last night. She said, “We probably went to 1st grade together.” Actually, we were in the nursery together at Hillcrest Hospital back in March of 1960. I’m pretty sure she was the one crying all night! I look out and see former coaches, and teachers. Others are new to my story but just as dear to my heart. Most satisfying to me, is to look out and see so many who say, “He is the only pastor I’ve ever known. He was there when I was born, he baptized me, did my wedding and was there when my child was born.” There is nothing greater than that. Oh, and one of “those” is my daughter-in-law! I’ve got the greatest job in the world. I am really grateful for the get together last night, but more so for the regular encouragement you give. Thank you for the joy of serving you.
Have a blessed week and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod
As a pastor, it also means I get to be a part of so many special moments. I get a front row seat at the birth of a child, at the wedding and times of great celebration. I have the privilege of being invited it to your most important decisions to offer counsel or advice. I am asked to pray with you in times of crisis and when making life-altering decisions. I don’t take that for granted, I prize those opportunities and consider them my highest honor. Do I have hard days, difficult days, days I want to quit? Yes! Sometimes those “days” last for weeks but I love my job. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Every week I stand before you and I see folks I’ve known all my life. Some of you, I have no memory of life without you. You knew my parents and you knew me before I knew me. Others I’ve known since my childhood. Tammy didn’t go back far enough last night. She said, “We probably went to 1st grade together.” Actually, we were in the nursery together at Hillcrest Hospital back in March of 1960. I’m pretty sure she was the one crying all night! I look out and see former coaches, and teachers. Others are new to my story but just as dear to my heart. Most satisfying to me, is to look out and see so many who say, “He is the only pastor I’ve ever known. He was there when I was born, he baptized me, did my wedding and was there when my child was born.” There is nothing greater than that. Oh, and one of “those” is my daughter-in-law! I’ve got the greatest job in the world. I am really grateful for the get together last night, but more so for the regular encouragement you give. Thank you for the joy of serving you.
Have a blessed week and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod