As many of you know I am part of a pastor’s group that meets together each month. Included in our meetings we have times of prayer, of simple conversation, and intentional mentorship which I, as one of the younger pastors, greatly appreciate. Included in this time of getting together we discuss a book that we have all taken the time to read. The books are always informative to how we can better do this job of being pastors.
These books are helpful and I am blessed for the chance to gather with, and learn from, these great men of God.
But the last two meetings I had to confess to the group… life had taken some busy twists and turns and I simply didn’t get the books read. I strove to remain engaged in the discussion, I still learned from the authors as the other pastors discussed their favorite parts of the books. And the books themselves still sit on my shelf pestering me that I ought to pick them up to read. The problem is, there is already next month’s book that I need to read and so choices have to be made.
Now, it is entirely possible that the other pastors could have said, “Come on Tim. We are all busy too, but we found time to read the books.” And they would have been right. I certainly hold no monopoly on the idea of “busy”.
But, to their credit, not a single pastor showed me anything but grace. Immediate was the forgiveness for the current failure, even as they helped me turn my eyes toward the next opportunity for success by talking about the book we’d be reading next.
It is often the case that we learn best about the nature of God, and how the church is to show His love, in our moments of failure. I love that the pastors I meet with are such that I have permission to be less than perfect. There is no need to pretend to be perfect, or to have all the answers, or to be without flaw. We don’t gather to brag, we don’t gather to one up each other. We simply come together to encourage, to equip, to learn.
In this I count myself doubly-blessed. Because our church functions much the same way as this pastor’s group. We are a wonderful collection of people, each who have our own stories of foibles and fumbles, and yet in God’s grace, the whole is made greater by its parts. I thank God for each of you, my friends in this wonderful family of God. Whether you’re a long-time member, or someone brand new to our fellowship – I’m glad you are with us. I look forward to seeing how God continues to fit us all together.
Here’s to what the future holds!
- Pastor Tim
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
~1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NLT)