The Pastor and the Worn Path

The shepherd in Psalm 23 does not drive the sheep. He leads. The pastoral life is not about how loudly we can summon people forward; it is about whether we ourselves know the still waters, the green pastures, the path of righteousness.

You cannot lead anyone to a place you have not been. The pastor who has not lain down in the green pasture of Sabbath is the pastor who treats the flock as another deadline. The pastor who has not had her own soul restored by quiet waters has nothing to offer the soul who comes to her looking for restoration.

Begin with your own walk. The ministry will be the better for it, but more importantly, you will be the better for it — and your family, your friends, your morning prayers, your sleep at night, your laughter on a Tuesday afternoon will all benefit from the simple discipline of letting the Shepherd lead you, before you ever try to lead anyone else anywhere.

The pattern is older than we are. The grace is older than the pattern. We come to it not as students at the head of the class but as children at the foot of a long table, where the meal has been ready for a while and the chair has always been waiting for us. Sit. Receive what has already been given. The day will be longer than you think, and the bread will be enough.