Pastors Are People Too
I guess growing up a PK ("preacher's kid") I always saw my dad as a regular person. Although he was different from a lot of my friends' dads (he didn't drink, smoke or cuss) I didn't think he was particularly holy or otherworldly. In fact, my dad was a pretty normal guy who got mad at us kids on occasion (but never, ever hit us!), had his hobbies (woodworking being the major one) and loved old movies.
When I turned twenty I thought about following in my dad's footsteps and going into the ministry. At that time I was leading a church youth group, along with my future wife, Sue. Although it started out as a Methodist youth group, it had evolved to include pretty much all the neighborhood kids, most of whom were Catholic. In fact, when the local priest, Father Joe, heard about this group he became curious/concerned and made it a point to seek me out. We quickly became good friends. Joe would often show up at our apartment on a Saturday or Sunday evening with a bottle of sacramental wine, take off his collar and his shoes, and make himself quite comfortable as we talked theology, sports and politics, not necessarily in that order. I think he appreciated the fact that he could be himself around us.
I needed to share that background with you for this next little bit to make sense. So, I was about twenty, leading a youth group of 25-30 neighborhood kids, most of whom were Catholic, if they were anything at that age. One night I announced that I had decided to go into the ministry. Nothing much was said aside from a few congratulatory comments, but very quickly things changed. In fact, the kids changed -- at least they changed in how they related to me. I was no longer included in their jokes, they cleaned up their language (which was a good thing), but worst of all, I felt excluded. I wasn't that much older than some of the kids and had considered myself a friend as well as counselor. Now I almost expected them to start calling me "Father."
I thought, if this is what it means to go into the ministry, maybe I'd be better off (and more effective) if I remained a lay person, just like them. And that's what I decided to do. I remained actively involved in youth ministry for over 20 years, at several different churches. I only decided to step away from youth ministry when my oldest daughter became part of my senior high youth group and I felt it wasn't fair to her to be both her youth counselor and her parent. It was then that I strongly felt God's call to go into the ordained ministry.
Even now, I'm sure some people think I'm different, perhaps more holy, with a hotline to God. Its not true, of course. I'm really no different than most guys. I like sports (big Suns fan), rock & country music, funny comedies, and (unlike my dad) even the occasional beer. But I'm also a committed follower of Jesus Christ and a fellow traveler with you on this adventure of faith. I have some spiritual truths to share and a lot more to learn. I hope we can travel together for awhile.
Blessings,
Steve