Keep Listening
As the pastor of a church that is coming out of a very difficult season with lots of lingering hurt, I get a lot of feedback and shared concerns, even critique. That is ministry, and especially ministry in a replanting/rebuilding context. I have found that when I am most inclined to shut out what I would prefer to define as noise, I need to hear it and allow others to be heard. But I can't just stop listening once they have vented frustrations or shared their struggle, I have to keep listening until we get to hope. What are we hopeful for in the life of the church and what are the evidences of grace already among us that we can celebrate. Now in my situation, to be honest, the excited voices far outweigh the critical or concerned. There is a general sense of God at work and we are trusting together in him. But I realize that this strategy to keep listening can benefit all of us greatly in our faith as well. You see, each day you hear tons of voices telling you what they think it tr