The Unbusy Pastor

TOO BUSY?

Eugene Peterson says the three most important things a pastor can do are (1) to pray, and teach people to pray; (2) to preach in such a way that people hear a distinctive note of authority from God's Word, and know that their own lives are being addressed on their home territory (and that kind of preaching is a creative act that requires quietness, solitude, concentration, intensity); and (3) to listen in unhurried leisure. 

For a pastor, being "too busy" is ignoble; a scandal, even blasphemy; being "busy" is a symptom of laziness ("letting others decide [priorities] rather than resolutely deciding myself") and vanity. 

...If I vainly crowd my day with conspicuous activity or let others fill my day with imperious demands, I don't have time to do my proper work to which I have been called. How can I lead people into the quiet place beside the still waters if I am in perpetual motion? How can I persuade a person to live by faith and not by works if I have to juggle my schedule constantly to make everything fit into place? (Eugene H. Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction, 19).

And so here we are (fellow pastors, especially)... about to enter Holy Week... and how often do you catch yourself saying, "I'm SO busy" and wearing that like a badge of honor? I'm more guilty than anyone........


And so I "begin" Lent AGAIN today, praying "Lord, have mercy." 

Shower the people

"Shower the people you love with love; Show them the way you feel; Things are gonna be much better if you only will" (James Taylor).

I heard this old song today and it brought back memories of singing along with it on the radio. But today it occurred to me that you could almost summarize the whole gospel in this song. Isn't this what following Jesus is all about? Following Jesus means showering people with love....

Well, this song *almost* says it all. But Jesus goes miles and miles further: "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you."

Love your enemies. Wow.

I don't think Jesus is necessarily (or merely) talking about far away enemies, rogue nations, terrorists--although we should indeed love them and pray for them too. But I think Jesus is MORE concerned about those "enemies" in our own communities; those "jerks" who always seem to get under your skin. Yes, THOSE enemies.

It's only possible in the power of the Spirit; with a "new heart" within us. It's a matter of attitude, I think.

Here is Eugene Peterson's translation of Jesus words: "You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty...."

Shower the people you love with love. And shower the people who seem unlovable with love too. This is what God does.