I see:
Your enormous hearts,
Your desire to serve in the name of the One whose love has defined your lives,
Your passion to follow the way of Jesus and serve the least, the lost, and the lonely.
The delicate line you walk as you navigate the needs of members who are well served by older traditions, and the demands of a new generation seeking God’s action in their lives and communities in different and changing ways.
I see:
The pain you witness when families and loved ones grieve.
The long hours, the interruptions in an already over-scheduled day. The missed activities with friends and family.
The stress of managing declining funds and buildings that demand maintenance.
The impossible expectations that congregations have of you to fill pews and generate vitality.
I see:
How you suffer when beloved congregation members die,
The gifts you share as you hold everyone’s grief and lead them through remembrance and celebration.
The discomfort when people associate you with the actions of other Christian pastors whose cruelty and political agendas make your heart break.
The pressure of crafting sermons that seek to bring wisdom written thousands of years ago to a contemporary audience.
The demands you put on yourself to be all things to all people, and to do it while smiling.
Mostly, though:
I see your empathy and your desire to know God and serve God.
I see your compassion and the love you share with people who sometimes are really hard to love.
I see your outreach, your hope, your grace - so freely given to others and so often withheld from yourselves.
I see you, shining brightly with so many gifts. I appreciate you. So much.
Hang in there. You are not perfect. That was never supposed to make it into the job description. And you are so much more than your worst traits, your bad days, your missed cues, your frustration and anger.
You are beloved. And God whispers a heartfelt “yes” into your soul, restoring life to the embers of a call that may have grown cold. Hang in there. This is sacred work. You are carrying a treasure to people who don’t even know the transformative power of the gift yet. But with God’s help, there you are. You are not alone. You are part of a community of awakened hearts, who stand together and offer what is ours to share.
May God bless you. May God’s face shine upon you. May God give you Peace.
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