General Assembly has driven home the difficulty of living a life in the public. to be a pastor is to be in the public life. if i want to be a pastor, i will be in the public life in many ways. it requires a thicker skin than i have. much of what goes on in public is nothing about me (even if said in reference to me), and on one level i know that... but on another level, i cannot remember it when i am hurt. a deep and abiding faith, trust and confidence in God’s love for me can grow that skin, that place of security, where i am stable despite the chaos, ambiguity and straight up hostility around me. i hope it grows fast.
i have also become vary wary of the camps in the church. the politicking that goes on does not have to be negative or hurtful, but from some of the camps it is. the process seems manipulated sometimes. the strength of being presbyterian is in our communal process, but when that process is not entered authentically and honestly, it does not work.
but, even at the end of the day, there is hope. the high school dance of GA is the witherspoon society dance, wear the eldest and wisest commissioners get down with the newbies, and everyone relaxes and has a good time. whoever calls us the frozen chosen has never been to one of these shindigs.
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2 comments:
Trust me the thick skin is necessary and churches are some of the most political entities in our society. Another one to discuss.
Working in ResLife or with college students is a great way to get thick skin. Students are hard on you.
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