I spend lots of time with those involved in ministry, and even more time teaching those who are ministering or entering into ministry. The last 18 months have been brutal. No seminary education or on-the-job formation prepared you for this. You have had to cut your own path and sometimes the path was too dense to cut. Sometimes the cuts you made led you into deeper thickets and quicksands.
I read this yesterday and shared it with a friend of mine who is pastoring in a more rural area. She is fatigued and feeling the drain. Just your awareness of this being a "brutal" 18 months was validating.
Thank you, Scot. I’m reading this today at the beginning of a small retreat with local pastors, and I’ll be sure to pass this on. Thank you for again showing us how to discern our lives in God’s big story.
Thanks for this Scot. Not only have I had to deal with the pandemic, but the chronic lymphoma I've had for years (it was "indolent") became acute two years ago. I started chemo and immunotherapy fairly soon after that and last December my oncologist said I was in remission. What a crazy two years! No fun at all! But the Lord has been gracious and the church has been very supportive. But the church has been just as you described in you post. Things were going so well even though I was in treatments and then the pandemic. So much is uncertain right now. Again, thanks for the post.
Thanks for this Clay. I've been thinking often of late of the pain and agony and struggle so many pastors are enduring. In my prayers this text of Paul's came to mind and I wanted to share it with those who would read it.
I read this yesterday and shared it with a friend of mine who is pastoring in a more rural area. She is fatigued and feeling the drain. Just your awareness of this being a "brutal" 18 months was validating.
Thank you, Scot. I’m reading this today at the beginning of a small retreat with local pastors, and I’ll be sure to pass this on. Thank you for again showing us how to discern our lives in God’s big story.
Thanks for this Scot. Not only have I had to deal with the pandemic, but the chronic lymphoma I've had for years (it was "indolent") became acute two years ago. I started chemo and immunotherapy fairly soon after that and last December my oncologist said I was in remission. What a crazy two years! No fun at all! But the Lord has been gracious and the church has been very supportive. But the church has been just as you described in you post. Things were going so well even though I was in treatments and then the pandemic. So much is uncertain right now. Again, thanks for the post.
Thanks for this Clay. I've been thinking often of late of the pain and agony and struggle so many pastors are enduring. In my prayers this text of Paul's came to mind and I wanted to share it with those who would read it.
I am reminded of David Larson’s comment, “I find Dr. Peale appalling, and the apostle Paul appealing!”