I cannot even begin to write about how much I miss being a local PASTOR. I loved being a missionary, and I love being an institutional Chaplain, but there is nothing like being a Pastor.
What excites me is the experience to connect with people in daily life. It's cool to kick out a sermon, get a response on social media, or pioneer a new 'thing,' but what really gets me revved up is sharing experiences with others. I love that!; and for me, that's what pastoring is all about. When I was serving in NYC, I got to live in my community and I got to live with my church family. It was crazy hard...and miserable at times, but overall it is was fulfilling and meaningful.
In truth, I do get to do some of this with my current gig as an institutional chaplain. And in the near future, I will certainly be doing day-to-day with my community and 'friends;' but, it isn't/won't be the same. The shared FAITH component is missing, and that so is very much needed.
Faith cannot be something that is simply 'believed' or affirmed through religious creeds or ceremonies. Faith requires an existential element and incorporation into the wholeness of a life. If I have faith that God creates and rules over everything, then how can I simply ignore the consequences and consideration of such in every aspect of my day to day life? That would be foolish and disingenuous. The same for my particular beliefs in Jesus' resurrection and the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. I can't really believe these things if they are not a part of my day to day worldview or interpretive process. And as such, my most deeply satisfying relationships are with those who share this faith. We learn from one another. Encourage one another. And find the realization of our faith in each other.
Now, you don't have to be a Pastor to have this kind of relationship. I think EVERYONE in every occupation or existence should find people of shared faith and engage it. But, for me, being a Pastor involved MAJORING in this way of life and encouraging and multiplying it amongst a community. Again, something everyone can/should do; but, it is also something only a pastor can do uniquely. Pastors go deeper.
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After writing the above, I spent some time reflecting on it and here is what I got in response:
1 - I confess this is only my interpretation of Pastoring. There are many different ways and types of Pastors, and I do not think they are wrong or lesser if they are not exactly as I describe above. However, after 15 years of vocational ministry in a variety of leadership forms, Pastoring means doing life with his sheep in a foreign and sometimes hostile world.
2 - Missionaries and Pastors are different, even when they are doing the same thing. Again, this is my interpretation based on personal experience in both roles, and as a member of the Christian church for many decades. They require different motivations, goals, and interpretations.
3 - Not being a Pastor does not mean that I am currently miserable or that all else is lesser. Nothing could be further from the truth. I will write later about the joy and fulfillment of institutional chaplaincy later, but suffice it say here that I would not want to be doing anything else in right now with my life. I write this post simply because of my deep appreciation and hope for the ministry that is Pastoring.
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