Acts 11: 1-18; Revelation 21: 1-6; John 13:31-35
May 19, 2019
A little over 20 years ago I began the process toward becoming a Lay Pastor. 20 years! Wow! One of my instructors was a wonderful Pastor and chaplain, Frank Brown. He taught the class on pastoral care. One of his main lessons was that Pastors can't fix everything. I am naturally a fixer and that was hard for me to hear. In fact, I took his class twice hoping that he could pound it into my head. He recognized this trait in me and he worked to help me focus on being a presence of hope and care with people in times of trial and in times of doubt and sorrow and changes.... I still struggle with wanting to fix everything. Even as a husband, it took me along time to realize I couldn't fix everything for Julie and to learn that what she often really wanted was someone to come alongside, listen, support, and love her through it.
May 19, 2019
A little over 20 years ago I began the process toward becoming a Lay Pastor. 20 years! Wow! One of my instructors was a wonderful Pastor and chaplain, Frank Brown. He taught the class on pastoral care. One of his main lessons was that Pastors can't fix everything. I am naturally a fixer and that was hard for me to hear. In fact, I took his class twice hoping that he could pound it into my head. He recognized this trait in me and he worked to help me focus on being a presence of hope and care with people in times of trial and in times of doubt and sorrow and changes.... I still struggle with wanting to fix everything. Even as a husband, it took me along time to realize I couldn't fix everything for Julie and to learn that what she often really wanted was someone to come alongside, listen, support, and love her through it.