The Job of Pastor

Pastoring is not anything like what I thought it would be. I have found it to be both enriching and frightening; both extraordinary and exasperating. It is wondrously awe inspiring as well as heavy and budensome. These are the paradoxes that define being a pastor. It is by no means dull and the privilege of serving my Savior and His people is beyond measure. It has been quiet a ride with plenty of highs and lows. We deal with people who fail to embrace Christ or the truths of His Word. Then suddenly you take part and play a role in the wonder of leading a person to Christ, or teaching someone for whom the lightswitch clicks on and who in response earnestly embraces God's truth. Suddenly they find help, healing and restoration for their life and soul. There are times it all happens in a day, back to back, from one session to another. There are times the pastor is called to the hospital. On one floor a family rejoices while on another the family is saying good-bye to a loved one. The gammut of the emotions can take a toll on your soul, and sometimes the extreems make it hard for us to relate to our families. Yet I'm overwhelmed by the wonder which far surpasses the heaviness of the mantel of a pastor. How thankful I am to be a part of the kingdom work. What an awesome God we serve.