Does It Suck To Be A Pastor?
Does It Suck To Be A Pastor?
May 12
Following the normal pleasantries of a startup conversation I am often ask,”what do you do.” At times reluctant to answer, my confession seems to evoke strong emotions with every admission. “I am a pastor”, is the jaw dropping mantra that is my answer.
Never failing to be true, upon hearing my admission, my inquisitors struggle to hold a straight face. It is almost as if they wish to say, “Does it suck to be a pastor?” While I receive this emotionally charged response with each admission, I never quite get use to the taken-back nature of the questioner.
Are they surprised that a normal looking individual like my self would choose a life of servitude to God and man? Do the think that only white haired, wrinkled old men, wearing robes and collars should dawn the name, pastor? Or, is it that I look like I can bench-press a truck that throws them of kilter? Whatever the assumption, I believe most are shocked that this segment of the population has not died-out and still is a relevant sect of culture.
To answer the question, YES and NO. Throughout a few blog posts (or as long as the thought lasts) I think I’ll expand on quagmire; Does it suck to be a pastor? There are multiple reasons why, yes, some times it sucked something fierce. While other moments bring me a joy I can’t explain. The center piece of the answer is the people factor. In my short five years of full-time pastorate I have worked with, around, and for some amazing and some outright dastardly individuals. In later installments I hope to share some of those stories, the good, the bad, the ugly.
