Lots of challenges facing pastors now days.
One significant challenge is the gap between what she or he believes about God and what she or he experience from God.
1/
One significant challenge is the gap between what she or he believes about God and what she or he experience from God.
1/
One gap I see:
I believe in God's love but I struggle to experience it.
I think this gap is exacerbated by two three dynamics:
2/
I believe in God's love but I struggle to experience it.
I think this gap is exacerbated by two three dynamics:
2/
1. Being both God's employee and God's child can tend to get us in an identity mix up. Too much employee, not enough child.
2. Eloquently telling others of God's love, but not experiencing it ourselves can inoculate us to it.
3/
2. Eloquently telling others of God's love, but not experiencing it ourselves can inoculate us to it.
3/
3. 'Always more to be done' getting in the way of the time required to abide in Christ.
and a bonus
4. The unaddressed idols that come with being a pastor.
4/
and a bonus
4. The unaddressed idols that come with being a pastor.
4/
There is a lot of talk of COVID burnout and COVID resignations. But COVID reminds me of my days of trauma chaplaincy. Trauma and crisis don't cause the damage, they reveal and elevate the previous state of being.
5/
5/
When I would meet with a family in the ER waiting room, I could tell you about their family dynamic after 2 or 3 minutes of interaction. Close families become closer, fractured families get into more tension.
6/
6/
The crisis doesn't cause the tension, it reveals and increases the tension that already existed.
Pastor, how was your soul BEFORE Covid? Had you named and actively worked on your idols? How was your engagement with God's love?
7/
Pastor, how was your soul BEFORE Covid? Had you named and actively worked on your idols? How was your engagement with God's love?
7/
Of course COVID has added tremendous pressure. Everything has become divisive, even simple things like wearing a mask has become a stupid fight among church people and a stupid form of pressure and criticism toward good pastors. I get angry thinking about it, honestly.
8/
8/
It isn't as if the pastoral role was a picnic before COVID and now these added pressure.
But make no mistake. Each of us are fully capable and responsible to carve out a life in God that we enjoy.
9/
But make no mistake. Each of us are fully capable and responsible to carve out a life in God that we enjoy.
9/
It helped me, about a decade ago, to recognize just how challenging being a pastor can be to my own enjoyment of God and my own deep connection to God. Sometimes ministry helps, often it gets in the way.
But what is also true: I have a lot of autonomy over my schedule....
10/
But what is also true: I have a lot of autonomy over my schedule....
10/
My elders prefer it when I carve time for soul renewal.
I can cancel a meeting, schedule an hour, a full day, a 2 night. I can commit to a posture of openness to God's love. I can spend time chasing the ways I connect deeply to God.
11/
I can cancel a meeting, schedule an hour, a full day, a 2 night. I can commit to a posture of openness to God's love. I can spend time chasing the ways I connect deeply to God.
11/
Pastors, what if COVID is the gift that finally kicks us into gear to work more on abiding?
Calendar it, find all the many ways we can connect with the love of God that we so eloquently tell others of?
Because here is the thing:
12/
Calendar it, find all the many ways we can connect with the love of God that we so eloquently tell others of?
Because here is the thing:
12/
The critics and reactionary opinions, the pressure, the ambiguity of leadership, the, ahem, pivot....
They are not going anywhere. Taken as a whole, they are overwhelming.
But God is good. And you are held in the goodness and love of God. We can abide.
13/
They are not going anywhere. Taken as a whole, they are overwhelming.
But God is good. And you are held in the goodness and love of God. We can abide.
13/
And the more radical self acceptance, the more we connect to the vast and particular love of God, the more capacity we have to sit with the critic, listen to the anxious, ill informed opinion, lead through political divisiveness.
14/
14/
Calm presence is the antidote to an anxious group.
It is HARD WORK and it TAKES TIME.
It is not passive. It will not show up. You have to fight for it, work at it, put time and money into it.
Worth it. Worth it. Worth it.
15/
It is HARD WORK and it TAKES TIME.
It is not passive. It will not show up. You have to fight for it, work at it, put time and money into it.
Worth it. Worth it. Worth it.
15/
Pastor, you are needed in this world. Your voice really matters. Your presence REALLY matters.
Please be kind to yourself. Be at least as kind to yourself as God is to you.
16/
Please be kind to yourself. Be at least as kind to yourself as God is to you.
16/
Be so kind that when you die and face God, God says, 'actually, I would prefer if you were harder on yourself.'
I say this in jest because you know this will NEVER HAPPEN. Because you are putting so much pressure on yourself, so much expectation to do it right.
17/
I say this in jest because you know this will NEVER HAPPEN. Because you are putting so much pressure on yourself, so much expectation to do it right.
17/
What can you let go of today? What can you trust God with? What are you trying to control that is God's alone?
And what do YOU need? How much will it cost to get it? Budget it. Budget the time and the money.
18/
And what do YOU need? How much will it cost to get it? Budget it. Budget the time and the money.
18/
I know so many amazing coaches who can help you. I'll tag 3:
Intensive counseling for pastors? @chuckdegroat is the gift you need.
One on one coaching? @trishaltaylor and @Jimherrington are gold.
GOLD.
Peace of Christ be with you today.
19/19
Intensive counseling for pastors? @chuckdegroat is the gift you need.
One on one coaching? @trishaltaylor and @Jimherrington are gold.
GOLD.
Peace of Christ be with you today.
19/19
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
