A Note From Rob ...
Week of Feb. 22
In a recent Continuing Education event the presenter made an observation that United Methodist pastors are
generally more depressed than clergy in other denominations. Several things rushed through my mind. One of them
was a book written by our presenter in which he confessed his own frustration about ministry. This defense did not
hold for long. Soon I asked myself if I had been depressed as a United Methodist clergy. Did I know others who
are.
The answer was, “yes”. Soon to follow were the reasons why external realities made me feel depressed. I
thought if United Methodists are depressed more than other clergy it must be due to something inherent in being a
UM Pastor. Then I recalled it was only an opinion he had shared, not hard facts. Are we more depressed than other
clergy persons? Don’t know. Maybe ... maybe not.
However, that still left me with answering the question of why I had been one of those depressed clergy
persons. I concluded the feeling was situational and occupational. Sometimes darkness pervades life in an
overwhelming fashion. Situations like grief, disappointment, betrayal, and even rainy days and Mondays can lead to
feelings of sorrow. Compound that many times over and even the most cheery of dispositions will begin to wilt like
a flower without sun.
The other reason is occupational. Perhaps one reason is that being a clergy person is not something that is
finished after an eight hour shift. Leaving someone’s presence doesn’t mean they leave one’s heart and prayers.
The weight of one person or need being lifted up in prayer is not especially hard or taxing work. Not heavy lifting.
But multiply that many times over by many individuals and their pain and needs over many years, such exercise
can be exhausting.
Another reason is related to the effectiveness of the individual or the gospel. A quick look around the
world and any community will tell you that while preaching the gospel is a calling it might also be an exercise of
futility. Is a gospel of love and forgiveness and new life; love for God, neighbor and self something we humans
want to accept? Do we human beings really want a personal relationship with God? Spending eternity with God is
high on the “after this life” list but not on the “get done today” list. “One day”, we say “but not this day”. It is
painful to watch someone who is missing life’s greatest joy and journey; life with Christ.
Then I thought the presenter was right about something else. He asked us why this might be true when we
have the most awesome good news to share with the world. That seemed to be the key. Focus on the message not
the messenger or those receiving the message. Or as Mother Teresa said, “Let nothing so fill you with sorrow that
you forget the joy of Christ Risen.” May the joyous light of Christ fill your life and should life become dark; may
the presence and light of Christ comfort and guide until the morning’s dawn.
RETURN
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