This month we asked our bloggers about how they view the role of pastor, how they understand their pastoral identity, or to share what a pastor really does all week. Here’s how they responded.
The morning starts. The sun is beautiful. The coffee is plentiful. And all I have to do today is write that blog post for Presbyterian Outlook. . .
Suddenly the phone rings. My 10:00 meeting wants to become my 1:30 meeting. I say “no problem” and hang up. I go to change the time on my calendar, but realize I already have a 1:30 appointment. So I go to call my 10:00 back, but it goes straight to voicemail and I get the dreaded voice that says: “Mailbox is full.” I try again, but still no answer. I’ll try again in a bit.
I get a refill on coffee then go back to thinking about that blog post . . .
I realize I’m late (again) for preschool chapel. The teacher comes and gently (not so gently) knocks on my door while pointing at her watch. I run to the office to grab the weekly Bible book. I head into the sanctuary. I forgot the “Happy Birthday from your First Pres Friends” stickers, so I run back to get them. I open with prayer, read through the Bible story and end with a repeat-after-me version of the Lord’s Prayer (they really are starting to remember it !). Then I pull out the birthday stickers — only to find out there are no birthdays this week.
I head back to blog for a minute . . .
Someone is sitting outside my office door. They want “just a minute.” They are upset about a sermon. Not one of mine (surprisingly). But one they heard while they were on vacation (what’s a vacation?). This preacher said that Jesus would have been “one of those protestors” if he were still walking this earth today. My friend wanted to know what I thought about this. I ask for the context, but he couldn’t remember. I asked for the Scripture passage being used, but he couldn’t remember. I asked what else from the sermon he could recall, but he said he got so distracted by that statement that he couldn’t recall anything else. I said: “Well, Jesus loves you and that preacher and those protestors and everyone else. Let’s pray . . .”
I get back into my office, stopping only to get another cup of coffee, and I’m ready to write . . . .
But it’s already time for my downtown Rotarian lunch. I’m glad to be involved with this local service organization. My congregation sees it as important for me to be involved in the local community. But it does involve a lot of time to stay involved (go figure).
I get back from lunch. Full. Tired. I grab one more cup of coffee for those caffeine-inspired words to come for that Presby-Outpost posting . . .
I forgot to call my 10:00 back!?!? I now have two people trying to meet with me at the same time. But grace abounds. They are kind about it. I meet with one. Then the other comes in and the first one stays for that meeting too. We finish business and they ask me how I think the Oklahoma State recruits are looking so far. They ask me if our head football coach, Mike Gundy, still has that sweet mullet. And I say: “Oh yeah, he’s still rockin’ it!”
They leave. I turn my attention back to the post . . .
But before I get to it, I find out three members (and one “friend of the congregation”) were put in the hospital over the weekend. Everyone is asking me “why?” and “what’s going on?” and “haven’t you seen them yet?” I say: “I’m heading over there right now.” I get to the hospital, but only two of the folks were there. Apparently one got discharged to go home and another actually went to the hospital at the nearby town. I see the first two, head to the next hospital to see the third, and call the fourth on my way. My cell service breaks down. I call the fourth again. Her cell service breaks down. We finally connect on a strong signal, but I arrive at the next hospital and tell the fourth I have to go see the third. I convince the volunteer at the front desk that I’m not crazy and they can trust me with the room number. I go visit. I pray some more. I head back to the office.
I get back, the coffee pot has just a little left, and at this point I’m hoping that I might at least simply open a document to start that blog post I promised . . .
However, a member of the church staff is waiting on me. Apparently we forgot that it was the youth pastor’s birthday! So she went out and got a card and a cupcake. We are going to gather everyone who is still here to go and sing to him in the hallway, but we have to hurry because he’s about to leave for the day. We catch him just in time. Sing the song. Make some “you’re getting old” jokes.
I head back to my desk and fall into my chair. I’m getting texts from my family to see if I can pick up milk on the way home. Apparently there was an “incident” that they are still mopping up. The day is over. The sun is setting. The coffee is gone. And all I had to do today was write that blog post for Presbyterian Outlook. . . maybe tomorrow .
BRIAN CHRISTOPHER COULTER is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Aiken, South Carolina. He is a husband, father, pastor, author, blogger and pingpong champion who is pretty good at sidewalk chalk.
