Lonely Work

Regarding your post, "Reengagement" - 


You don't even like us, huh? Ha... wow, that certainly is honest!! :-) I know how you feel though, Tom... pastoring ain't for the weak of heart for certain. Every ministry situation is kind of the same, only radically different! And (in my limited experience) church planting is an incredibly lonely, up-and-down process that pushes you to your limits of doubt, frustration, and confusion. Oh, there's joy to be found and collected along the way, but dang, it ain't a walk in the park by any means. Back in seminary, I knew what I wanted to do, and was ready to go out and do it - I'd attract a bunch of on-fire disciples along the way (all of us ready to take on the world), and we'd transform our community by loving God and loving our neighbor. Easy, right? But nearly four years later, and hmmmm... people seem more independent, aloof, and whacked-out busy than on fire. 


Heck, I'd like to think I'd settle for medium warm Christianity... but too much of the time the embers are nearly ready to die out. Actually, some of those embers actually have died, which is heartbreaking and a serious blow to the ego. It's like watching a train wreck in that I've watched people I dearly love just walk away from me (and my teaching)... from the church... and from God. They don't like what I said, or what I didn't say... or what I did or didn't do. Deep down, I know they're probably rejecting how close God is getting and they feel the heat of His presence - but that doesn't make it any easier when they blame the pastor, does it?


“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” -Mother Teresa


So ya, I'm ready to reengage with some fellow sojourners, that is, if ya'll are so inclined. Frankly, I don't think I bring a lot of profound insight to the table, but nevertheless, I have learned a few things along the way... and would love to (re)discover a group of peers with which to occasionally discuss them. Let's tear down those "walls" of isolation and enjoy some time conversing.