Come Away

One of the dangers in pastoring small towns (or large towns, medium towns, ok...any town for that matter) is in the cultivation of compassionate hearts for the people God has given us the privilege of pastoring.

Do we see our people as human beings made in the image of God? Do we see them as beloved sons and daughters who need to be cared for with the tender compassion of a shepherd who loves His sheep, sacrifices His life, and cares for their souls in their beloved but boundless creatureliness?

Or have our sheep become more like “cattle” to us: nameless, faceless, nuisances who need to be herded from one place to another while testing our levels of convenience, annoyance, impatience, and exasperation?

One of the ways we can guard our hearts from treating people like cattle is to stop treating ourselves like cattle. By being the person you need to see your people being, you’ll understand the weaknesses that you share with them as fellow human beings in need of God’s mercy and grace. That’s the commonality you share with the people in your town regardless of whatever socio-economic disparity may exist. Let the depths of that genuine commonality break your heart for them as God gives the eyes of your heart greater capacity to see how closely your limitations mimic theirs.

Part of coming away to a desolate place is not only about being in a space absent of people. It’s also about giving your body and spirit time to be filled with the fruit that a desolate place provides for your malnourished soul.

The disciples needed a place that not only lacked distractions but lacked opportunities. Sometimes in the rush of small-town ministry where we carry too many unwritten titles and roles in unwritten job descriptions, we battle the temptation for endless opportunities—opportunity to connect with all the people, lead all the ministries, preach all the sermons, teach all of the Bible studies, and care for all the souls. Getting away to a desolate place and securing a secluded weekly sabbath is a way to deny yourself the opportunities that threaten to turn you into a “small g” god within the limited confines of your church and community.

There’s something else we can’t miss.

Jesus didn’t say, “Boys, let’s sync up our calendars and find a day that works for everybody to get away and rest.”

He basically said, “Drop everything because we are GOING NOW.”

What does this tell us about our opportunities to serve?

That those opportunities can wait.

That there’s nothing so important that can’t be set aside for a spell. See, the more you see people as human beings, the better you will see yourself with the same kind of shepherd-like eyes. This intentionally compassionate refocus will allow you to eagerly and guiltlessly plan regular rhythms of rest and sabbath, and your sheep will greatly benefit from you no longer perceiving them as cattle.