Loading ...A Whole Two Days
This weekend, I took two days off. Yes two whole days off. No one called, no appointments had to be met, no weddings, or funerals, lunches or meetings, and no coming by the church building to get a little work done. Two whole days. You minister’s know how rare this time is. I usually take Saturday’s off, but recently, on Saturday I have been involved in some form of ministry. All good stuff, just stuff I had to do. So it has been over a month since I had a full day off. Nothing to do at all. I took the time off to spend with the extended family. The nephews and nieces came to the house, and the boys and I played hockey, swam, played hockey and swam, and fished, well really threw rocks in the pond. It was a great time that I truly enjoyed. It is funny sometimes to me of how people talk about the minister being on and off. Personally, I have never masted this idea. We are so far from shift work or bank days and overtime, that most people do not have a clue about preacher time. In the past, I would try to explain how this all works to church members, but it was difficult so I gave up. I have accepted the fact that I am on call 24 hours, 7 days a week. Though I still feel guilty that I have taken two days off. Sad, very sad for me. I guess most minister’s do not want to be lazy ministers so we become workaholics. Which is just as bad of a sin.
Related posts:
About The Author
Here’s the problem with ministers … they have a different job (ministry) and people don’t realize that there is no 9-5 for the minister. You’re never off unless you take vacation. When I come home at the end of a day, you never know when you might get a call to go to a hospital or counsel someone. You’re always “on call.”
Besides all that if some tell you you’re spending too much time in the office and you need to be out in the community more. While others are saying you’re not in the office enough and need to be there more.
It’s a tough work sometimes. I hope you enjoyed you two days!
Don’t associate guilt with a few days off…ministers work hard and free time is rare.
Our minister recently took off a week for an out-of-state visit, and came back so refreshed its even evident in his sermons, and its rubbing off on the rest of us.
There’s a lot of good stuff in that old saying…take time to smell the roses.
Matthew, I totally understand this. It is a dilemma of sorts. It shouldn’t be, but it is. Sometimes I feel guilty as well, but I shouldn’t. I guess there are several issues with a minister taking “time off” including my personal “control” and “in charge issues” but that’s another blog! Good post, glad you got a break!
aww this picture is soooo cute