The parson was sitting on a sofa in the library of the big university that was home to the seminary, talking with a colleague of long standing and two relatively new clerics.
Frank, one of the younger ones talked of encountering a person who worked with folks of a lower economic status. He described the man’s work, the type of clients he served and shared the story of a couple of successes.
Norman, the parson’s colleague, asked, “Is he a member of your church?”
“No, sir, he’s not,” said Frank, “but he occasionally attends.”
“You know,” said Norman, who was an instructor in pastoral care at the seminary, “I get the impression that although you praise this man’s work, you have some reservations about him.”
Frank contemplated the statement a moment, then replied. “I guess you’re right. Whenever he talks about his clients there’s an unease about him. Sometimes it comes off as being nervous; sometimes it comes off as a bit of superiority attitude. I don’t know what it is but it’s like he’s trying to place a barrier between him and the people he’s working for.”
Norman, always interested in people leaned forward. “What do you think is motivating this behavior.”
“Honestly?”
“Of course, honestly,” said Norman.
“I really think he’s operating out of a fear that he could become one of them.”
Norman sat back on the sofa. He turned his head toward the parson.
“You’re quiet today. What do you think of Frank’s friend?”
“He seems to act like a lot of pastors I know,” the parson observed.
Comments