My Brother and Friend, Pastor Patrick

As I write this, we are in the month of October, and I’m thinking about Pastor Appreciation Month. Similar to bosses day and administrative assistant day, someone came up with the bright idea (probably Hallmark to sell more cards), to remind all of us to let your pastor know how much you appreciate him.

Before I retired, I had love/hate feelings toward bosses day. I was embarrassed at the attention, and at the same time, needed the affirmation from my staff. I was constantly juggling their welfare and growth with the needs and wants of my bosses. I tried to live by a few absolute rules - give credit to the person who did the work, listen to their ideas on how to do the work and, whenever possible, have them attend the meeting when their work is presented.

There were several boss highs during my career such as promoting the person who had worked hard and getting a job reclassified to reflect the work actually being done (and provide future upward mobility). In fact, I applied for the CFO job and when I was interviewed by the CEO, I was asked what I considered my most significant accomplishment during my tenure there. My response was that I had engineered an environment that encouraged three people to get their professional credentials (side explanation - there are certain things such as filing for a rate increase or certifying how much money to have to pay claims that legally have to be signed by someone with actuarial credentials and other requirements so the credentials are a big deal).

There also were many activities that I dreaded such as writing up annual reviews (I believed in more regular, informal conversations regarding progress and not waiting until the end of the year), being the cheerleader for corporate requirements that I considered less than a productive use of time (DEI for example) and firing an employee. I

think I had to fire 3 or 4 employees in my 30 some year career and each of them was excruciating.

As I think about Pastor Patrick, I see several similar (and several unique), job activities that kept me in management for all those years. For example, before I retired, senior management level operated on being accessible 24 hours. I responded to many an email from my peers from home. I imagine that, even on his day off, Patrick feels compelled to respond to needs that assert themselves to him by the congregation.

I wrote a devotion, Support Your Local Sheriff, in which I stole the best parts of an article I found recommending ways to support your pastor. Among the ideas were to pray for him, extol him when he does something you like and want him to know you appreciate it and to give him grace when he gets pulled in a different direction from your plan.

To this list, I’ll suggest a heartfelt note this month to let Patrick know how much you appreciate him. It doesn’t have to be long or be in a Hallmark card. Just jot down a couple of positive impacts that God has worked through him in your life.

“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from

whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” - Ephesians 3:7-21 ESV

My brother in Christ, Patrick, I praise God that he has led you to be my pastor and I have grown in my faith through your encouragement. Thank you.