The Ups and Downs of Ministry Life

Last week consisted of decorating, baking, studying, jam-making, cleaning, Bible study, Zoom meetings, preaching, an outreach event, and all sorts of other activities both at home and in ministry.

Ministry is kind of an eclectic thing around here and there are many ups and downs. I love every moment of it, but it's not always a bed of roses. Lest anyone think it's all excitment let me share a bit of what ministry is like, at least in my world. 

---> It's vacuuming up crumbs after little ones.

---> It's putting out weekly fires.

---> There are high points, but there are also many low points.

---> It's driving an hour away to purchase kitchen supplies for an upcoming dinner.

---> It's plunging toilets in the middle of an outreach event. Yes, that actually happened on Saturday. We open up our building for people to come and use the bathrooms, get warm, and get cookies and hot cocoa during the city's annual Christmas parade). It was at that moment that our entire downstairs bathrooms decided to back up. We are blessed to have the owner of the local plumbing business attend our church. So he was there within 20 minutes and got it fixed.

---> It's laughing hysterically while doing it and finding humor in the situation.

---> Working alongside my husband and using our gifts together.

---> Some of our Sundays are wonderful, like yesterday's service. Some are not so good when everyone seems to be glum and the group is non-responsive, like the week before.

---> It's wiping little noses and comforting children who are in full meltdown mode. And there is some of that with adults too (the meltdown part, not wiping the noses!) 😂

---> It is helping people through their darkest moments and sometimes, through their worst behaviors. And it's also them helping me through my darkest moments and worst behaviors! I mention that second part because people sometimes have a false idea of what clergy should be and I want to reassure you that I struggle just like everyone else does. Growing together is what the body of Christ should be like. 

---> But it's also celebrating with those going through their highest points and rejoicing in the victories.

---> It's having wonderful exciting ideas and having them fall flat or be shot down.

---> It can be very lonely.

---> Learning to laugh really helps get through many situations.

---> I'd say 90% of ministry is really being good with all kinds of personalities and having a posture of humility and learning from others.

---> It is remembering that people need encouragement.

---> It's also remembering that it's not all about me.

Ministry is not for the faint of heart. I enjoy it though there are days when I think, "Aren't we done yet?" But then God reminds me that He is at work and that He is with us as we minister to others.