Pastor 24/7

Written on February 24, 2007 in thought

I am absolutely exhausted again today. One of our young couples, good friends of mine and part of our church, found out earlier this week that the baby she was carrying had died inside her. So last night she was scheduled for a DNC. I went in with her mother and met the young woman in emergency with her husband. They wanted us to stay with them, so we did. We talked the whole evening away, trying to help distract her from her pain. The emergency room was insane. As always, the staff was overworked and understaffed. Things kept getting postponed and postponed until she was finally tentatively promised midnight. At 12:25 a.m. she was wheeled into the operating room. Less than an hour later we were by her side to comfort her. She was already waking up and talking. This family has been through so much in the past couple of months it’s crazy. This young couple is devastated. There are no words! They told me that for Lent they’re giving up hope. I get that.

I finally got home at 2:30 a.m. Lisa and I talked over a drink until nearly 4 a.m. We are overcome with the level of loss and grief our church is suffering right now. Being a pastor is that: being. It’s not a nine-to-fiver. The other day, someone told me that they heard a preacher say that 2007 is going to be the year of the Lord’s favor. I said I’ve heard that every year now for a decade. Jesus said that he proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favor. It is NOW. Every year is. Like it or lump it! Right now I feel like having a huge, fattening breakfast. Something fried!

A friend of mine got two tickets to the Saint John Annual Wine Fair. He’s taking me because his wife doesn’t like red wine. I’m his date! We went last year and had a blast. I’m looking forward to it. Hundreds of wines to try. Lisa’s taking us there, dropping us off and picking us up when it’s over for reasons that don’t need explaining.

PS: I want to thank everyone for your wonderful comments, thoughts and prayers on my blog. I read every one of them and try to respond personally to every one of them. I honestly appreciate you all.

Chris

This couple will be in our prayers. I can’t possibly fathom the depth of what is happening to your church. It the Lord is preparing your collective hearts for something. It doesn’t matter if it something big or something small as long as it is according to His will. In the meantime I will keep praying for you all.
Jacquelyn

Wine Fair… in support of the Red Cross… Communion?
http://www.microclesia.com John L

My sympathy and well wishes to the couple who just lost their child. My mom tells me I had a brother that died at birth.

David, there’s a thing about wine-tasting events: you must learn to spit. Otherwise, by about the 12th table, you are feeling no pain. By the 20th table, you are drunk. As an amateur wine maker who attends these things regularly, I have learned to spit. Not nearly as fun or visceral, but you can successfully drive home after the event.

Safe travels,
JL
http://nakedpastor.com nakedpastor

Oh John, I do spit. Unless they are too good. Let’s hope there’s not too many good. And I do realize they SEEM to get better as the evening progresses.
http://www.wildgrace7.blogspot.com gracie

giving up hope for Lent…. that’s a sacrifice of praise i think.
enjoy your comfort food, drink and anything else God brings to revive you!
Jacquelyn

A miscarriage is so hard to reconcile. The pain does get easier, lighter or less painful but one still has that question – why Lord? Not a give God the finger – why, but simply, why Lord? Yes, I can sympathize with another and that is wonderful but still… My prayers go out to that couple as well. I remember. I will remember you.
http://happyluau.blogspot.com Olivia

I wanted to share this post with you from Abbey of the Arts, a blog I enjoy. It is some rich material that speaks to Lent, lament, and life:

http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/02/21/ash-wednesday/

I really feel for this couple and for all the pain people have been going through in your church. The wonderful, healthy thing is that I think that we all have this pain in one way or another; it just often festers inside and we go through our suffering alone. Going through as a church is a tremendous privilege in this life, I think.
Ellen

Olivia, thank you for posting the above link. I would encourage all of you to read it…it is a beautiful and articulate essay on the lament.
joni

Glad to hear she made it through the D&C without difficulty. I was out of town and really missed seeing you all on Sunday.
http://nakedpastor.com nakedpastor

we really missed you too joni