Life in the Day

I used to notice when people ask questions like, "So what do you do all week?" Now, the question just sort of fades into the background, joining such comments as, "It must be great to only work one day a week." (That's usually from my brother!) But, because as a kid I wondered the same thing, you might ask that question from time to time. What does a pastor do during the week?

The truth is...there is no one answer. Every week is different and every pastor's situation is different. Cathy used to ask me, "So what do you have planned for today?" She doesn't even ask anymore because the day I have planned and the day that comes to be are usually very different things. For instance, my plan last week was to work on the next sermon because I am going to be gone much of this week. But life happened.

So here's just a glimpse into last week's "slice of life of a pastor, Terre Haute edition..."

Monday morning is usually filled with "catching up from the weekend" sort of stuff. Staff meeting happens every week on Monday afternoon and is a time when we can share what's going on in each of our areas and discuss important matters in the life of the church. And we laugh. A lot. I also got to share lunch with a ministry group that makes prayer blankets and shawls for people in need, and I sat with a daughter in grief to help plan her mother's funeral.

When I'm in town, Tuesday morning always begins with prayer. We have a great group of community pastors who gather at Mount Pleasant for prayer every week. We pray for our own needs, for the needs of our churches and community, for revival. We also laugh. A lot. Once a month, that group joins together with pastors from all over the city for lunch and a business meeting of the Wabash Valley Ministerial Association. This month, we then went out to the Air National Guard Base for a tour and information about chaplaincy and the needs of those who serve. It was a great chance to build relationships between the 181st and the community. Hospital visits (at two hospitals) and then home.

There was also a pastor's meeting for the Fruitful Congregations Journey, planning Sunday's worship, attending the last fall BOOST (our mid-week dinner and educational gathering), performing a funeral service, helping stuff boxes for Operation Christmas Child, participating in Sunday worship, and attending a Newcomer's Dinner. And I did squeeze in some time to work on next Sunday's sermon.

I don't write all of this to gather "oh, you're so busy" comments. I hope to show that the life of a pastor is anything but boring. Most days, I love my job and am thankful for my calling. Ministry is a full and fulfilling life...which brings me to the question I didn't even stop to consider until I was in college. I wish I had prayerfully considered it sooner. The question is this: might God be calling you to full-time "professional" (for lack of a better word) ministry? Might God want to use you to touch others' lives in such varied settings? If so, I'd love to talk with you, help you explore that possibility.