This is not a “woe-is-poor-me” post, even though it might sound like it. I love…LOVE…my job. I LOVE the church I have been privileged to pastor for 20+ years. I don’t want to be, nor do I desire to be anywhere else. I have one daughter who lives with us (she wants to keep an eye on her aging parents); a soon-to-be-married daughter who lives in Ohio; and a 19 (soon to be 20) year old grandson who will begin his Sophomore year at Ohio State. I am TOTALLY happy living where I do and serving the Lord where He has placed me.
I just finished reading a book entitled The Ministry of Small Things by Reuben Bredenhof. He wrote about what I consider is my approach to ministry: do the small things. I once pined to be the pastor of a big church and the prestige that came with it. May I say one thing? WHAT A FOOL I WAS! Along with all the headaches that came from being a small town church pastor, I realized those issues would just be magnified. That is why this book so resonated with me. I like doing the small things. I like sending personal notes. At the first of this month, I sent out 135 personal handwritten notes to the families and friends of OVCF to encourage them to BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. One thing to say: NOT AGAIN! Besides the cost factor, there was the time factor and the hand factor (I think it cramped several times). 🙂 That’s not the first time I did that..but I’m thinking it might be the last. But I digress. It was a small thing and I like to do small things to make people feel loved and wanted.
But being the pastor of a small church also has its glitches. (Remember, Gail, I am NOT complaining!!) 🙂 Far from it. Being the pastor of a small church in a small town affords many opportunities for shepherding and being involved in peoples’ lives and feeling their hurts. The following is just some of what has come across my desk JUST THIS WEEK. No names will be mentioned and I will be vague on purpose.
My future son-in-law (yes he asked me, asked her, she said yes, and she got a ring) is struggling with the effects of chemo on his stage 4 pancreatic cancer. My heart aches.
A young friend who has been fighting cancer for 7 1/2 years…7 1/2 years!!…is struggling and hospice has been called to help his mom. He is not on death’s door, but the struggle is real. His grandfather, one of my best friends, died after a 15 year cancer battle that started in his prostate, just a little over 2 years ago.
I had a visitor to my office who shared some really hard news that still has me reeling.
A personal health issue that will have ramifications in the future (and which I will share some day) has me wondering how I will do.
But then God’s Word reminds me that God gives me what I need to make it through each day. That is what I’m counting on. Today. That’s all I need. Today. Not tomorrow, especially since tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. Why borrow it, you know? 🙂 Besides, I have no clue what tomorrow will bring. Today is what I need to remember. God gives me strength for today.
And in spite of it all…I love what I do. I love being a shepherd to “my” people. (Please don’t make a big deal about the “my” I used. I know they are HIS and I am His shepherd. But He did give them to me to watch over). I’ll keep you posted on God’s answer to my “today.” And sorry for the long post. You know those preachers…
God does give you, and each one of us, exactly what we need to face the challenges of each day we find ourselves awake and alive. It is one day at a time, Bill. You are just where you’re meant to be, and God will use you to shine His glory to those whom you pastor. Praying for you, your family and those you pastor!
Thanks, Martha, for the encouraging words. And thanks for your prayers,.
It’s been a hard week. Maybe it’s our age. We had a friend we’ve known for 50+ years die of liver cancer. My cousin’s husband, whom I’ve known since I was about 6, died after having a series of strokes. A nephew’s wife was diagnosed with a very rare cancer that, even if the surgery, radiation, and chemo work, gives her about five years at most. She’s 48. The grief can be overwhelming at times, but it’s also a measure of the joy we’ve known, and perhaps a measure of the joy to come.
My week seems small compared to the weight of yours Glynn. Thanks for taking the time to share your “world” with me and my readers. It can be overwhelming. (I wrote that in my journal but edited it out of my post). But I am excited to see what God has in that huge area you call joy.
I just read a devotional for seniors about when our faith is tested, like yours seems to be right now, we can be a witness. I wish I could say I have maintained a positive, uncomplaining attitude in all things but I have been struggling with sciatica for three months and some days the pain makes it really hard. I often count on the prayers of others. Praying for you, Bill.
Been there with the back pain Pam. I feel for you. It got to where I was sleeping 2 hours a night. Surgery finally alleviated it. Thanks for praying for me.
Bill, may I say that I appreciate all the small things that you do. I have all of the notes you have sent out, personnel notes to me from anyone are true treasures to me. I have a box that I keep all of those notes in. I can tell you love being a pastor. Honestly, I know you are not fishing for compliments here, but I just want to say, I feel that both you and Ryan, are very caring and loving and it truly shows. It makes me feel like, I have a bond with my church that I have never felt in any other church before. I appreciate all the work, time, values that you and Ryan, embody. Thank you 1Thessalonians 1:2-5
WOW Gail! Thanks. Pile some more on. 🙂 Just kidding. Thanks so much for the kind words. It is always good to know someone notices when little things are done and it makes a difference. I appreciate what you said.
That’s what I love about the Lord. He gives us the sunrise and sunset of each and every day to experience and no more. Why worry about what can and will or might happen tomorrow. Let’s all live for today! Praying for you and yours Bill!
Good philosophy with God at the center of it all Ed: let’s live for today.