Well, well, well, Twelve pages and we are still spinnin' our wheels in the sand, ain't we?? Not going anywhere while the enemy gets a fix on our position and keeps firin' away!!
I want you guys go to back to the first two posts that really, really started it all off--those of Thankful's and Deacon's.
It seems that there was a survey done in Oklahoma concerning Preacher's and depression and then Deacon gives some of the reasons that preachers can be overwelmed. Then the pages go on and on without even a handful of preachers getting involved in the discussion.
I think though, that Swaimj may be a preacher and then Jim--Oh, If Jim could be my pastor for just a day all of my troubles will go away--God bless your heart, brother--you way up there in Canada's cold and I way down here in Dixie's bliss!!
Now, from a preacher's point of view! Been doing it now for 15 years. Still got a lot to learn. I'm not a know-it-all! But I just want to let you guys know the "why's" of why a preacher can fall into a state of depression. And here is my number one reason---he has to deal with folks!!
My first pastorate was bliss--little country church where all I had to do was to scratch up a sermon or two for Sunday and then visit the widow's and Senior Adults. Not bad! But then I wanted more! There starts my problem! Selfishness! And guess what! I got more!
We took a move to a bigger situation. Bigger situation calls for bigger problems! More people hanging around who are more selfish than I am! Long story short--the sheep started shearin' the shepherd! Everyday, everyday, everyday I was bombarded by selfish folks--pride, envy, hatred. Marriages in church bust up and are blamed on preacher--folks move away and quit comin' to church--must be the preacher's fault!
OOOHHHH, and the heartache and the headaches!! I had a man call me into my office(something is really up when a man says, "Preacher! I need to see you in your office!!!) I thought that was what the preacher was suppose to say!!! Anyway, he looks at me and says this:"With the exception of one or two people in this church--they hate you, preacher!"
I am a WW2 history buff--and what those soldiers felt on the front line was what I was feeling then!! I feel into a slumbering stuper! I began to have phantom pains and soon didn't want to do anything--I thought something was wrong with my heart--big time! So I went to my old family doctor--He hooks me up to the EEG machine--he runs his steathoscope all over my body--he listens, he probes, he presses---"Blackbird! Ain't nothin' wrong with you, man! Your heart is ok--your kidneys and stuff are runnin' fine---Tell me . . . your momma says you're a preacher! Tell me about it!!" Then I unload!! Then he says, "Take some time off for you and your family!"
You see, those 33 percentile preachers up in Oklahoma--maybe, just maybe most of um--their main number one problem just may be the people they have to deal with!! Over and over and over again! Its not that the preacher falls out of God's will--but that the people surrounding him fall out!! And its hooked on the preacher!
I have a buddy preacher who lives over in Georgia--he was wanting to take a little vacation--just him and his family! Well, the deacon's want to know--"Leave a phone number where we can reach you!!"---That preacher doesn't want to hear that!! He doesn't want to be reached! He ain't a doctor! He doesn't have patients on life support! Then the deacons say, "You either leave us your number where we can reach you--or you can just move it on down the line!!!!"
Folks, when I take vacation--here's what I do--I pack up the church's phone list in my suitcase and I tell the deacon chairman--"I'll call YOU if I need YOU!!!!"
It just may be that those 33% of the preachers can't get a grip on the people surrounding them!! When you pastor---you get involved with people--David got involved with the biggest psycho this side of heaven--King Saul!! At times David would play the harp and could charm the evil snake into submission--and at times--David was runnin, runnin', runnin' for his life! Saul's hatred toward David--and David has to deal with it!!
I promise you--If you pastored my situation that would make two of us that would say, "We don't know what to dooooooooo!!!!!!!" The heartache of broken marriages, selfishness, envies, seductions--all being placed on the preacher--and he absorbs it--and if he don't know how to unload what he absorbs--it'll get to him!!
I ain't a psycho--I ain't a nutcase! Nobody is studying me!! Probing my mind!! I ain't on tranquilizer's---I don't need a tranquilizer--I need an enegizer and an equilizer--scan the book of Psalms--primarily written by the preacher David--some by Moses--and some by Soloman and others--primarily preachers who have to deal with people!! Read each psalm carefully--at the beginning of the psalm--deep, dark depression and despair--here is where he's dealing with people who are not right!! Then time and time again--you read on--and toward the end of the passage--He starts dealing with God and God starts dealing with him!! He goes from despair to delight!! Despair to delight!! Despair to delight!! Why?? He gets his mind off of the people and onto the person of the Lord Jesus Christ!
So, here is a preacher speaking and giving an avenue of perhaps one reason so many preachers are in states of despair and gloom! Because he had to deal with people and their sins and their problems!! OOOOHHHHH, but thats just one preacher!! Probably those 33% are being truthful and the other 67% are liars! Maybe, huh!!!?? I don't know a preacher yet--and buddy, I know a bunch of um--who will tell you, "I've got it all together! I am on my toes! I have no problems!" If he says that--folks, he may be lyin'!!
Pray for me always! And pray for your preacher more than that!!!
Your Southern Baptist preachin' buddy,
Blackbird
