The District Task Force on Reducing the Number of Required Meetings was meeting. The parson having attended a smidgen over 7,000 meetings in the course of his career was participating with a degree of amusement. As such he didn’t say much. But he listened.
In the course of the listening the parson was drawn to a new pastor. He remembered her being ordained two years previous. He had been struck by the enormity of the event for her, evidenced by her almost uncontrollable sobbing when the bishop laid his hands on her head.
Erin Swanson, was in her early thirties. All her life she had wanted to become an ordained minister. Every course she took in college was seen as a pathway to ordination. Seminary became a rite of passage for her. And on the day she heard her name called out to serve her first appointment, all of her struggles had come to fruition.
The parson watched her during the course of the meeting. Every time a date was suggested where the committee could gather for some purpose, she quickly consulted her iPhone calendar and then reported on her availability. Working out a schedule with the Energizer Bunny in the room became a challenge for the other participants. The entire meeting, for the parson, became a variety show staring Erin and her calendar. And during the lunch break the parson had overheard her conversation with another female pastor about the lack of a social life.
When the meeting had adjourned, with the promise that the Task Force on Reducing the Number of Retired Meetings would meet again, the parson found an opportunity to speak to Erin outside the church.
“So how are things with you these days, Erin?” he asked.
“Wonderful, Parson,” she responded with a smile.
“When’s the last time you had a date?” the parson asked.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m an old man, Erin, with more years in this church than you have yet to live. So, indulge me. When’s the last time you had a date?”
She looked up toward the sky and replied in a soft voice, “I guess it was the last year of seminary.”
“Nobody has asked you out on a date in two years?”
“Well, Parson, it’s not that. It’s just that there is so much to do at the church. I really don’t have time for a romantic relationship right now.”
“Sure you do.”
“I don’t, Parson,” said Erin, looking toward the ground. “When I gave my life to Christ and answered the call to ministry, I had no idea how demanding the job is.”
“How demanding is it?”
“What? Parson, are you kidding me?”
“No, Erin, I’m not. Actually, I’m making fun of you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Tell you what, Erin. My son has this friend who’s single. He’s a Christian businessman whose very successful. And I doubt very seriously he is intimidated by a female pastor, because his mother’s one. How about I set you up on a blind date; just to let you get away from the parish for one evening?”
Erin looked at the parson intently for a moment, “I don’t know, Parson. I don’t know if I have an evening I could spare for a date.”
“Okay, Erin,” replied the parson. “I won’t hound you about it. But if you change your mind just let me know.”
“I’ll do that,” she smiled. They both turned to walk to their respective cars.
Halfway to his car the parson turned and yelled out, “Erin, when was that church of yours founded?”
“1842,” she called back. “But it was a tabernacle then.”
“1842,” the parson echoed. “OMG,” he continued in a mocking tone while seeming to count on his fingers, “can you believe that church existed for a 166 years without you fretting over every detail of its life?”
Erin stopped in her tracks and stared at the parson. She seemed to be weighing things. She smiled and called out, “I’ll think about it, Parson. I’ll think about it. But you should tell him I’m an expensive date.”
Dear Parson,
Remind Erin to make time for herself outside of and away from the church. She needs "to be good to herself." Peace, Curtis
Posted by: CurtisGrissett | April 14, 2010 at 07:53 AM
Good advice. I also like the name of the District Task Force on Reducing the Number of Required Meetings. Sounds very Methodist. Unfortunately.
Posted by: Wayne | April 15, 2010 at 09:20 AM
*waiting to read Part Two*
Posted by: DogBlogger | April 15, 2010 at 05:20 PM