In my roughly two years of full time pastoral ministry I have found myself learning many lessons, some are hard and painful others are easy and more simple. I want to draw from the latter to encourage men who want to be or perhaps already are pastors.
There are a lot of things that men can do to learn and watch faithful pastoring. This may be through discipleship in seminary, the local church or in the great biographies of faithful men of old. While not detracting from any of these means, I want to introduce another avenue that I think is an extremely helpful tool in learning to have a pastor’s heart: getting a big dog that is serious about protecting the family.
For us it is our 90 pound female Boxer, Brandy. She does not play around. She is thoroughly yoked and is always on guard, yet at the same time she kisses our kids and follows me around from room to room. Men in general and pastors in particular need to spend some time around a tough dog.
Each morning when I get up, often times before the rest of the family, I walk down the hallway and there is Brandy laying at the top of the stairs as if waiting for someone to come to the front door. And if by chance someone does come, she lets loose a more than intimidating display of barking, growling and dueling, all the while with her hair standing straight up on her back.
Recently the utility guy came to the house to read our meter, which is in the backyard. My son Bryce relayed the story to me of how while he was reading the meter he saw the dog’s chain begin moving near his feet. He immediately bolted back from where he came with Brandy hot on his trail. When he felt safe he exhaled and strolled across our front yard, only to be shocked that from around the other corner Brandy came relentlessly upon him, she ran right out of her collar and leash (first time this happened by the way) and was charging at him. He again took up sprinting and found himself behind our rubbish barrels on the curb. Brandy put the brakes on as she hit the sidewalk and just stood there growling and barking until he slowly walked away.
Now while I have nothing against meter guys and I’m sure this guy is a nice guy and undeserving of such treatment, he nonetheless becomes a fitting illustration. Too many pastors act like fat house cats who just purr and lick everyone without a sense of stewardship and danger. Faithful pastors on the other hand are supposed to be aware of danger as they protect the flock and refute those who contradict (Titus 1.9). They are to walk close with their Master with fearful reverence, even anticipating commands and approval.
So if you are a pastor or desire to be a pastor get rid of your cat, bird, or hamster and go and get a dog with some teeth, muscle, tenderness and steadfastness and then watch them. You might just learn something.
