May 13, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Faithful Perseverance

Our vacation last week took us back to Maryland to visit good friends and spend some time with our daughter and her boyfriend. All in all it was a good trip, and United didn't lose our luggage.

While there I had a conversation with a clergy friend of mine (a non-denominational pastor who has served several churches and now also teaches a couple of courses at the local community college) that started when he asked, “Do you ever get tired of doing this?”

I had almost that same conversation with another clergy friend this past Monday when they talked about the low attendance at their church on Sunday and scrambling to find replacements for the assigned liturgical ministers.

We (clergy) are called to teach and preach. We administer the Sacraments. We absolve and bless. We baptize and bury. We do any number of things, seen and unseen, for the benefit of people, church, and God. And, at times, it can feel like a futile endeavor as we struggle to form disciples of Christ.

In a results-driven world, we can be our own worst enemies as we wonder why people don't attend the bible studies or other formation classes they've asked us to create. We wonder how we can make Sunday worship essential to people who see it as just one of several activities to choose from that day. We try to come up with creative answers when asked, “How many people are in your congregation?” And we fight to keep from comparing what we offer against what others offer.

Do I ever get tired of doing this? Sometimes. Some days are worse than others. Which is why I look for opportunities to learn and refresh, like the webinar I've signed up for later today called, “Holy Limits in a Burned-Out World: A Conversation for Clergy.”

But when I feel particularly tired of doing this, I remind myself that, more than anything else in my job description, I am called to be faithful. I am not called to be a corporate CEO. I am not called to have the most entertaining sermons. We are not called to have the slickest website or most polished streaming production. We – me and you – are called to be faithful in worship, prayer, and working for the spread of the kingdom of God. It can be hard. It can be discouraging. It can also be extremely rewarding and life-giving. And looking back, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Everyone gets tired. Everyone needs a break – even Jesus went away to recharge. May we all be faithful, as the Lord is faithful, and persevere in working for the spread of God's kingdom.

Blessings,