Does Ministry Fuel Addictive Behavior? – LeadershipJournal.net: “But here is reality. Well-meaning pastors can work 80-hour weeks and still not be able to please their flocks.” (HT Eternal Echoes)

I was told something very interesting yesterday. When pastors are under stress, they lose things in the following order:
1st Their wider reading;
2nd Their prayer life;
3rd Their sense of humour;
4th Their humanity.

I’m coming more and more to the conclusion that the cultural expectations on ministers need to be put through the blender. I think often of One Salient Oversight’s comment about teaching being the essential part of ministry (for the truth is pastoral), and also of some of my hassles.

The old is dying and the new cannot yet be born. In the interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear. (Gramsci)

Quite what this means for where I am I do not yet know. I’m pretty sure I am where God wants me though.