I went through a yo-yo phase. I could walk the dog, I could rock the baby, and do the elevator. All of these are fairly entry level tricks, but I thought I was cool . . . If yo-yos could be called ‘cool’.
I think everyone knows the primary yo-yo move. Down and then up, down and then up again. Repeat . . . Repeat. The yo-yo has been used as a metaphor for emotional swings of highs and lows for a long time. And that metaphor hit me yesterday.
I got some good news and celebrated with a person after having just received some really hard news from another. And as I was getting in my car, a question just crossed my mind: ‘Was I just fake?’ How could I smile, laugh, and rejoice in that good news while I had just been close to tears a moment before? The bad situation wasn’t resolved. And that bad situation doesn’t stand alone. There are several downers going in at any given point.
This isn’t to suggest that pastors have a unique corner on sad news. But I do believe that we have a unique call to be present for the highs and lows in the life of our flock. AND further, we are expected to process these highs and lows in an exemplary way. It’s both a big privilege and big responsibility.
So, you should know your pastor is on a string. He deals with highs and lows all day. At any given moment, he knows he might be called to grieve with one person, while he may be called to rejoice moments later with another. (And some of you may be just now realizing that he does more than just work for an hour on Sunday!)
My guess is that your pastor WANTS to enter life with you. He wants to celebrate with those who are celebrating and grieve with those who are grieving. And my hunch is that there are times and moments and season when the proximity of those two result in a whiplash within him.
I would encourage you to pray for your pastor. The Lord knows that I need prayer. It is always encouraging to my soul to know that there are people who are praying for me. And share your highs and lows with your pastor. Let him ride those ups and downs alongside you so he knows how to pray for and support YOU.
Life is often full of trips up and trips down the string. And yet every man called out to be an example as a pastor/elder has to know that a good chunk of that calling is graciously entering the life of a flock. I didn’t take on this role without the knowledge that there would be ups and downs. But I am so blessed by a church that I know is praying for me. I feel sustained in the emotional roller-coaster by God and His grace. But I thought it might be helpful for someone reading this to be reminded that your pastor is a person. And whether or not he knows any sweet tricks, he is still running like a yo-yo!
