Familiarity...

I love food. Yeah, you read that right. Food. I enjoy it, savor it even. When I want pizza, I don't want just any pizza. I want good pizza. With a spicy sauce that has a hint of sweetness to it. Papa Johns, maybe. With a three-cheese blend. Maybe some sauteed onions and green peppers. The garlic butter sauce for dipping my crust. Hmmm...

Oooppsss- got sidetracked. Toldya- I love food. I have a friend who feels the same way. He just completed a 10-day fast. Said it made him appreciate tasting food all the more. Like he'd become so accustomed to the taste of his meals that he'd taken it for granted.

I pastor an incredible church. I seriously feel privileged- like I've been honored with a great gift- to pastor these people. They love one another well. Not with mere words, but in how they treat and care for one another. They focus outward- "how can we help?"- rather than inward "what has the church done for ME lately?"

And this is a poor church. Socio-economically, we are lower-middle class. We barely make our bills and often don't quite get there. Our carpet is 25 years old, stained with memories of coffee, baby bottles and juice. Our outside lights don't work right. Our parking lot is in desperate need of help. Yet...we feed and clothe people through our Mercy Ministries. We welcome addicts and see them become free in Christ. We are full of foster kids and maladjusted youth. And we love and accept them. Even when they're loud in the worship service. And...God is present.

So I make well under what a Pastor of a similarly-sized church with like affiliations in Virginia makes. Especially one in his "highest earning years," according to reports. We struggle. Vacation last year was a Minister's Retreat in an unairconditioned dorm room. We had a great time. But no cruises. No beach trips.

And I can struggle with the desire to give my wife and son more. But...Layman isn't fighting or plotting the overthrow of it's leaders. We are reaching, teaching, going, growing. Because we reach the disadvantaged, most people represent more need rather than additional help financially. But that's OK.

Because I'm called here. To this. With these people. And I LOVE them. I often think of where they sit each week. I see them in my head and I can call to mind names, family relations, prayer requests. And I pray for each. And thank God for the privilege of doing life together with them. No greater honor.

God forbid that familiarity would breed anything other than a greater love for God's people, God's mission, God's call. I'm no martyr. I'd love to be able to make more. To give my son vacations and ski trips. To give my wife a new floor (our carpet is disintegrating...). But I'll give them a contented, called husband and father who loves Jesus and is privileged to serve. Hopefully, that's enough.