I have often been struck with how hungry we are as clergy for someone to ask us about our ministry. I’m not talking about those questions about numbers that either produce shame or inflated egoes, depending on our current experience. I’m talking about someone genuinely asking us to share about what we are passionate about, feel good about, are struggling with, etc. Most of us are willing to spend long hours, sacrifice comforts, and work hard for little reward in order to be faithful to our calling. We don’t ask for or need to have someone always publicly bragging on our efforts. But it would be nice occasionally to have someone ask how we are doing and express some recognition and appreciation for what we are doing.
Certainly the effect depends upon who is asking the question. Each have their benefits. For a casual member of the congregation to ask allows us to share our experience in a way that might invite them to become more deeply involved. For a non-clergy close friend to ask may provide us an opportunity to unload some of the stress we are feeling. For the session or governing board to ask the question may provide us the opportunity to strategize about an area of ministry that is important to us. For the judicatory to ask the question may provide us the opportunity to feel that someone beyond us recognizes what we are doing. In all these contexts, if the question is asked with sincerity, it has some effect in nurturing our sense of call.
For a very public profession, ministry is a lonely profession. There are things that we would like to share if only someone would ask and then listen.
