What kind of priest are you?

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own peple, 

in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts 

of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."  1 Peter 2.9

'Pastor, do they pay you for what you do?"  I wasn't sure if this 3rd grader asked because he thought I had an easy gig or because he was considering my work as a possible vocation.  Either way the answer was 'yes'.  It was probably the longest conversation I've had with this young man.  Perhaps it is a place for us to begin to get to know each other.

On a related topic, I was talking about retirement with a colleague whose advice was to give serious thought to finding something about which I could be passionate, and then to develop that in these next several years so I am ready when I am no longer being paid for what I do.

Except, that after giving it some thought I realized that the thing I am passionate about, and have been passionate about since a very young age, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  No, I don't use all my spare time reading the Bible.  No, I don't preach on street corners (and I am not planning on doing that when I am no longer in the pulpit at Luther Memorial).  No, I don't spend hours dedicated just to prayer.

However, it is God and God's message to us in Jesus and through the stories of the Bible that inspire my creativity and fill my heart and give me energy for the day.  I remember in Confirmation class when I was about 12 asking thousands of questions - enough to drive my pastor around the bend I am sure.  I remember at my confirmation assuring my mother that I was going to be a pastor when I grew up.  (The fact that the Lutheran church didn't ordain women at that time I considered a minor obstacle).  I remember the first time I listened to a presentation by a biblical scholar and couldn't believe there were people out there in the world who thought about these things like I did.  When I am away from the sacrament for any length of time, I miss it.

None of this makes me a better Christian; I fail with regularity and am confused by many of the things I hear and see in this world.  I am acutely aware of the suffering of others and the limits of any words to bring comfort in the face of that suffering.  I have days when I tire of doing good and am frustrated by the perpetuation of evil in this world. There are times when my faith is soooo thin.

However, all that being said, I have no idea what I am going to do in my retirement that will fill me like this calling to serve the Word of God has.

That is what my priesthood looks like.  It is easy for most people to see and understand (even if they are a bit surprised that I am paid to do it).  I am eternally grateful for this work.

What does your priesthood look like?