This morning I was working in the Round House Cafe. It was a productive morning, but also a morning of people stopping me and talking. I ran into a friend, my favorite waitress at my beloved and now deceased Pawlet Station, who is moving to the Carolina tomorrow. I met a gentleman who is just starting at the new pastor at a Church in Cambridge, NY. And I ran into someone I had met once or twice at my friend Jon Katz’s house.

This third visitor and I had a good conversation about how we gather information and form opinions. The discussion started out about politics, but expanded to cover other topics, such as religion. She recalled that I was a pastor and seemed surprised that I had such respect for other faiths, and ended by inviting me to a Buddhist discussion group. I will likely attend at least a time or two. I suspect I can learn some things.

As soon as she left, a gentleman who was sitting at the other end of the table came over and sat across from me. He never offered an introduction, but asked a question: “Aren’t you the pastor at Rupert Methodist?”

“I am.” I confessed. “And you are….”

“What kind of pastor are you? Going to a damned Buddhist meeting? I hear you think Gays should be treated with respect too.”

“Guilty.” I said. “Jesus treated everyone with respect, except hypocritical Pharisees.”

“Don’t go talking Jesus to me, twisting him all around.” (Honest, that’s what he said.). And he got up and left.

Well, I said to myself, that was different. I have no idea who he is. Somehow I don’t think he’ll be visiting Rupert Methodist Church anytime soon.

I’m probably not everyone’s idea of a pastor. I have a regular job. I am not full of hell fire and brimstone. I like bourbon, ballet, and boxing. I am far more spiritual than I am religious. I have a curiosity about dang near everything. I don’t feel like it’s my job to judge. I do feel like it’s my job to try and love. Although I have a D Div, and more theological books than you probably ever want to read, I tend to think Christianity really is a simple thing. We humans have made it a thing of rules and regulations, whereas Jesus made it very simple: “Love God with all your heart and love people as we love ourselves.” Bad-a-bing – that’s the core. Everything else is gravy.

I am far more aware of what I don’t know than I am aware of what I do know. People ask me questions all the time that I can’t answer. Most of the time when I am preaching, I am preaching to myself and my own weaknesses and struggles, because I know I have plenty of both. I’ve made most of the mistakes in the book. Some of them more than once.

But along the way I have discovered and experienced firsthand the power of Grace that lies at the core of Christianity. I have been extended grace by God and by so many loving people. Favor and kindness when I did not particularly deserve it. It’s a wonderful thing, grace, and I am blessed with a congregation that is full of it.

I have also discovered I suck at sound byte theology. I have to dig into the whole bible, in its context, history, and language before I feel comfortable with my stands on things.  have discovered that those answers are rarely what I think they will be when I begin. Few people have the patience to listen to my explanations, I have discovered. They prefer the sound bytes.

There is a myth out there that Pastors are nigh on to perfect, crazy holy, and have all the answers. Maybe there are a few who fit that bill, but most of the pastors I have met in my life are real people with the same struggles and flaws as everyone else.

I am a pastor not because I am particularly good or wise or have a basket full of answers. I am one simply because that seems to be where God has led me. To serve my little congregation as best I can. Not to tell people what to do, but to share his story, and the story of how I have seen him work. To use what spiritual gifts I have in a way that lifts up people, not tears them down. To care for his people on their terms, not mine. I haven’t been doing it very long. I’m only so-so at it. I am still learning, and likely always will be.

What kind of pastor am I? Flawed. Learning. Curious. Caring. Not for everyone, no doubt, but it will have to do while God finishes me up.

I suspect that’s going to take a while.

Be well. Travel Wisely.

Tom