Ponderings From A Gray-Haired Pastor

She called to report the death of a lady in our former church, and I thought about several things.

I was saddened to learn the deceased had been in declining health and in a care facility not too far away. I could have, and should have, found a reason to stop by to visit. I suppose we all have regrets thinking about people for whom we’ve lost touch.

And it’s true that maintaining friendships in former churches used to be frowned on by some.

I remember a minister from my teenage years who was reluctant to visit friends in the community when he passed through because the pastor he’d served with schooled him to stay away after you resign. I don’t hear this kind of argument anymore, so hopefully it’s dead and gone. It’s one thing to criticize current leadership in a place you’ve been, and another thing to maintain friendships with people you love.

But I’ve also been thinking about my experiences when I was a young pastor at the church both ladies attended.

Our denomination doesn’t have mandated training programs for us. We basically stand up and announce, “God called me.” Then we get invitations to speak and serve. We may not know all we think we do, having zeal and little wisdom! As a young preacher I thought I had it all figured out theologically, from end time events to how many angels could dance on the head of a pin (as St. Thomas Aquinas famously debated).

Also, with the impatience of youth I wanted to get things done today, not tomorrow. And I probably got a few things done all by myself since I didn’t take time to seek help and consensus. These projects probably didn’t survive after my departure.

Leadership teacher John Maxwell tells about winning “influencer” Claude to an idea and then letting Claude sell it to the congregation. I wish I’d heard this earlier. This proposition isn’t cowardice. It’s wisdom.

I’ve also learned a leader needs to have some degree of tunnel-vision. I frequently hear reports about what others are doing and why don’t we? But I’ve determined that if I can focus on three or four main ideas each year, I’m doing the important things.

I was sad to learn of the decline and death of a nice lady, but also grateful that another nice lady remembered me with kindness and wanted me to know about her death. The lady who called and the one who died supported me when I was young and foolish.

Heaven has a rich reward for dedicated church members who pray for their young ministers, offer advice and help them to be better servants of the Lord.

“Reflections” is a weekly faith column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of the Siluria Baptist Church, Alabaster, Alabama. The church’s website is siluriabaptist.com.