As a pastor, you have plenty of opportunity to have conversations with people who are in really difficult situations. conversations with people who are hurting, a lot. People dealing with sickness, family brokenness, consequences of poor choices and on and on and on. I have had days where I have had a conversation about late stage cancer, another conversation about overwhelming financial burdens, another about a family that is being destroyed by chemical abuse, all within a three hour span. Its difficult. It weighs on you. At times it can seem like there is just to much hurt for any of this, anything to be worthwhile.
I had a professor in college who i really enjoyed, he was a really interesting guy who was a psychiatrist and served as a pastor at a church as well as taught at the college level. I had him for a couple classes over my time in school, the one that stood out was a class called "Counseling for Pastors". The class was primarily people who were going to be entering into full time ministry. He said something in class one time, and I will never forget this, it was one of the most amazing lines I have ever heard, and I went out of my way to use it in any essay response I ever needed to give on an exam. He said "Counseling is an unending chain of human misery parading through your office."
I had a professor in college who i really enjoyed, he was a really interesting guy who was a psychiatrist and served as a pastor at a church as well as taught at the college level. I had him for a couple classes over my time in school, the one that stood out was a class called "Counseling for Pastors". The class was primarily people who were going to be entering into full time ministry. He said something in class one time, and I will never forget this, it was one of the most amazing lines I have ever heard, and I went out of my way to use it in any essay response I ever needed to give on an exam. He said "Counseling is an unending chain of human misery parading through your office."
"Counseling is an unending chain of human misery parading through your office."
How inspiring is that? I mean, if that doesn't just make you want to jump in with both feet into the world of counseling, I am not sure what will.
As I think on it though I am become aware of the fact that we all have things that we need other people to join in with us. God has placed people in our lives to help us, and we need to recognize that more often. As a guy I think I forget that its alright to get help. As a pastor it can seem like I have a responsibility to have it all together in my life. It can seem like by showing any sign of "weakness" that I am showing that my faith is weak. Nothing is further from the truth. The reality is that God has created us to be in community, to be in relationship and He desires for us to lean on people He has placed in our lives.
Yes, as pastors, much like professional counselors, we may have more exposure to some of these really awful stories that people share with us. We also have access to a God that loves His people, loves His creation, has designed a way for people to be supported and has equipped us, as pastors to help. So instead of looking at it as an unending chain of human misery, we should look at each conversation as a step in the journey.
As I think on it though I am become aware of the fact that we all have things that we need other people to join in with us. God has placed people in our lives to help us, and we need to recognize that more often. As a guy I think I forget that its alright to get help. As a pastor it can seem like I have a responsibility to have it all together in my life. It can seem like by showing any sign of "weakness" that I am showing that my faith is weak. Nothing is further from the truth. The reality is that God has created us to be in community, to be in relationship and He desires for us to lean on people He has placed in our lives.
Yes, as pastors, much like professional counselors, we may have more exposure to some of these really awful stories that people share with us. We also have access to a God that loves His people, loves His creation, has designed a way for people to be supported and has equipped us, as pastors to help. So instead of looking at it as an unending chain of human misery, we should look at each conversation as a step in the journey.
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