The parson was doing some economy shopping for the church at the Dollar General Store. He was headed across the parking lot with bags full of light bulbs, batteries, some coffee for the kitchen, and several sundry items.
Halfway to his car, Simon Carlson, a pastor at a growing congregation but still considered rural church, approached.
“Hello, Parson, looks like you’ve done some serious shopping there.”
“I have, Simon. Got to keep the church supplied.”
“Are you headed back to the church?” Simon asked.
“I’m headed there right now,” said the parson.
“Do you mind if I come over after I pick up a couple of things here?”
“Glad to have you,” said the parson.
The two parted. Simon headed into the store as the parson and his faithful canine companion, Charlie Brown, who was waiting in the back seat, moved over to make room for the packages. Canine and human settled in, the parson headed the few blocks up the highway to the church.
The packages were stowed away, Charlie Brown was curled on his bed in the parson’s study, and the parson was making some cappuccino, when Simon walked in. The parson offered him a cup and after each had one in hand, the parson led him to his study.
There the two discussed some issues the church was facing. Simon wanted to know if the parson knew the new bishop. Then Simon began feeling the parson out on the number of moves he thought the bishop would make at the coming conference in June. The parson listened to this pastor who was in the second year of his second appointment.
Simon ended his discourse with a comment, “The long and short of it, Parson, is I’m a big church preacher. I’m just in the wrong place.”
The parson drained his cappuccino and placed the cup on the coffee table. He looked intently at Simon a moment, then said. “You’re not, Simon. You’re not.”
“I’m not what?”
“You’re not a big church preacher. You’re the pastor of a small rural church with just over a hundred members. That’s what you are. Someday, you just might be a big church preacher, but it won’t happen until you master being a small church pastor. And you won’t master that if you’re always dreaming of the big church.”
“But, Parson, I grew up in a ...”
“I know where you grew up, Simon. You grew up in the fourth largest church in the conference. Well, guess what, Simon, I grew up in the second largest church in the conference. And here I am pastoring a church that’s not quite as big as yours.”
“But, Parson, you’re a big church preacher.”
“No, Simon, I’m not. I’m a small church pastor. I type the bulletins; I visit the sick; I do the counseling; I make sure the candles on the altar table are long enough to last through the service; I help keep the lawn. I’m a country pastor, Simon. And you’re a country pastor. Embrace it. Glory in it.”
Simon started to say something, but the parson held up his hand. “No, listen to me, Simon. Be a country pastor. Work on it, because that’s what you are. Don’t live your life in fantasies. Be a small church pastor to the best of your ability. There’s a lot going of it. You’ve got time to play with your kids; you’ve got time to study and become proficient; you’ve got the opportunity to hone your skills with people who will be patient with you because they’ve had a lot more dissatisfied pastors serve their church than you are. Good gracious, Simon, your church has only twenty to twenty-five families making up the congregation. Someone with your talents doesn’t even have to break a sweat to properly shepherd them.”
Simon seemed a bit ashen. “So, you’re saying I’m never going to serve a big church?”
“Oh, hell, no, Simon. Listen to what I’m saying. someday you might very well be a big church pastor. But you won’t be until you’re an effective small church pastor. If you really want that big church work hard where you are and it may come to you. But I must confess that I don’t understand why you’d want to trade what you have for that big church.”
“You don’t? Why?”
The parson stood, he picked up his cup and then Simon’s. He motioned to his faithful canine companion and Charlie Brown grunted himself up from his bed. “I’ve got to run, Simon. Walk out with me.”
The two walked to the kitchen where the parson washed the cups and placed them in the drainer. He motioned for Simon to follow him out. At their cars the parson turned to Simon and said, “Do you mind if I try to illustrate the benefits of serving where you are?”
“No, sir,” said Simon.
The parson smiled and said, “Why don’t you go home and take a long nap with your wife. When you get to be that big church preacher, you won’t be able to do that.”
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Brilliant!!
Posted by: Mary Beth | October 17, 2009 at 10:31 AM
I really needed to read this today. Thank you.
Posted by: Rev Kim | October 19, 2009 at 02:46 PM