Today was make-up day for Mandatory Boundaries Training, an
every-four-year event for clergy in Missouri. I’m a big fan of the event,
knowing how important it is for us clergy to be reminded to take very, very
good care of the tender souls entrusted to us.
I had missed the original date due to the death of my
father, so I spent much of the two-hour drive to Columbia on Friday remembering
some favorite things about him. I re-told myself stories that he had told me,
and I remembered his gentle pride in each of his children. I cried some on the drive, but never enough
to be hazardous to my driving or my make-up.
When I arrived at the Conference Office at the right time, I knew something
was wrong. The parking lot was mostly empty.
Mildly embarrassed, I walked into the office and asked the receptionist
if she knew where the Boundary Training was.
She responded by getting up, walking into the central area of all of the
Conference Staff offices, and yelling, “Hey, there’s a woman here who is
looking for Boundary Training.” My embarrassment
was completed when someone yelled back that the event was Saturday, not
Friday. (Did I mention that I drove over
there on Friday morning?)
My mistake in recording the date on my calendar turned into
a gift. I went Mother of the Groom dress
shopping in Columbia with a friend and found The Perfect Dress. So did she, for
a different wedding. I got to see my daughter perform admirably in her Mock
Trial competition at Mizzou, and I had a great evening staying with my friend
in her parsonage.
I arrived at the Mandatory Boundary Training today
refreshed, having only had to drive across town this morning. Other than being stuck inside on a rare mild
winter day, it was a good day. I got to
know some pretty cool colleagues a little better. The speaker reminded us of the grace that
helps us to handle the many burdens of ministry, even while she called us to
strong accountability for the people in our care. When we’re dealing with difficult situations
or people, we still seek the places of grace. Or, as she imagines saying in her
head to a troublesome person, “Even though you’re being a jerk, you’re still a child
of God.” I’ve spent a lot longer in
trainings and learned a lot less, so it was a good enough day.
I’ll do my best to remember that it really is all about
grace, and about how we’re all children of God in spite of how we might act
sometimes. And that none of us is perfect, even us pastors. And when someone points out my imperfections,
calendar-wise or otherwise, I’ll remember that we’re all of us just children of God, and that’s enough.
