Another snow day yesterday!!! Got to stay home, hang with the kids and April. I also got to go visit with BJ for an hour or two. He was home because his construction crew was scheduled to work on a barn... outside yesterday. Ouch. Glad it's warmed up a little for him today.
One thing staying home allows me to do is spend a little time thinking and reflecting. Yesterday I thought about "who I am, where I am." The fact is, I really like who I am right now. I really like where I am. I love my church experience. I LOVE being simple. In fact... I believe being simple is the only thing that is keeping me sane during times of great trouble, stress, and pain. If church were more complex... if I were trying to fit into a great pastor-role and grow this church like it's "supposed" to grow... then I believe I would burn out. I know I would burn out. I'd quit. And I'd probably live a simple, normal life after that.
A song came on the radio today by the group July For Kings. It's called "Normal Life," and it talks about how the singer just wants to live a normal life... I relate. I love the fact that I am living a (somewhat) normal life. I have a job. I have problems. I have to juggle time, family, work, etc... But the great thing about it is... I do NOT have to juggle church. Why not? Because church is WHO I am. Church encompasses all of what I do and who I am. It's very simple. It's just living... and being the church. While at the same time I recognize the giftedness God has placed in me to be a leader, a teacher, an encourager, etc... and therefore I am all of those things as well... in my church experience, in my job, family, etc... in my life.
Thank you to everyone who lives this life with me... whether you are beside me, out in front of me, or behind me. Thank you for letting me simply live and be the church. This is becoming contagious. I continue to meet people (new friends and old ones) who are hungering to have the life I just described. Church life does not have to be a headache. It should not be a burden. It should simply be LIFE.
Do you love your life?
+ + + God, thank you for letting me get up, prepare my lunch, go out in the cold and start the car (a borrowed vehicle while mine is not running... an example of someone living and being the church to me), driving to work, and continuing a very normal, simple day. I am amazed at how much "pastor" work I can still get done in this new life. I used to go to an office and have hours to myself every day, yet I honestly believe that I get more "pastor" work done today than I ever did before. Thank you for letting my kids have a "normal" life, without the undue pressures added onto them by society because they are "pastor's kids." Thank you for letting me talk with people about my job and my church life without them turning into a completely different person whenever I mention it. This always happened before whenever I answered the question, "So what do you do for a living?" Things are much simpler now. Things are much more real. I like it. Thank you God. + + +
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