This may sound really stupid, but I feel as if I'm leaving the pastors' club. I know there's no club and that I am certainly not leaving ministry, but I am experiencing a sense of loss thinking about not being a parish pastor.
I have worked just two days for hospice and those days have been a whirlwind of learning all about Medicare regulations. I am going to be easily spending twice as much time on paperwork as I am actually with patients. One thing is for sure, my organizational skills are going to be getting a much needed improvement! Everyone I work with is very nice and I do think that I will enjoy the work...... for awhile.
I am very concerned about our new Administrative Assistant. I do not believe that she is at all well. In the past couple of weeks she has been going on and on that someone has been coming into the church office and tampering with her computer and moving things around, so she asked that the locks be changed. Well, she is still going on about it and has accused both a session member and our former Administrative Assistant. Her proof? A text message that she said she traced to a small town about 25 miles away. Yeah, it makes no sense. She called another Session member twice on Tuesday to talk about it. The Session member then called me and said that the Admin. Assist. was rambling on and on and making no sense. She has also been out of the office all week with an ailment that she hasn't clearly explained to me. But, I don't want to ask anymore because her explanation is too convoluted and confusing. I hope that she returns to the office in a better place physically and mentally for everyone's sake. I have documented all of this for the personnel chair and for the Interim pastor when she returns from vacation. I don't envy them.
Here's a happy.... "Sally" is doing so much better! She is walking around and her thought processes seem to be okay. When I was talking to her on Thursday, she seemed as sharp as she ever was. And she is easily one of the sharpest tacks in the drawer! Praise God! Thank you for your prayers for her.
Have a blessed worship service tomorrow, y'all! I'm off to finish my Naaman sermon.
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8 comments:
Being a pastor outside of a parish is odd---there are times when it's really hard--you don't fit in anywhere, and times when it's actually awesome. Like Christmas, for example.
There is SO MUCH paperwork in hospice. I hated that part. But loved serving as a hospice chaplain.
blessings in all your transitions...
I bet it does feel funny being out of the parish!
Pesky paperwork - I HATE IT!
As for Admin Asst --- she sounds like she is sick - depression?? some other mental illness?
Iris, I can imagine there would be grief at any transition in ministry, but especially when you are leaving one kind of ministry behind for now. Peace to you, friend. (And I would urge the head of staff to urge the admin assistant to see her health care professional... something is amiss there).
Mags
Oh, dear Iris, it does not sound stupid at all! I am praying for you in this transition time. Perhaps this is a step towards the next part of life, but meanwhile I have no doubt you will be a blessing. I am wondering myself...seems like change is in the air, but I don't know if it is God or me.
so glad to hear about Sally! thank you for the update--what a wonderful blessing!
transitioning is hard and i can only imagine how difficult it would be to change from parish pastor to chaplin--you will be in our prayers.
i think we had an admin asst w/very similiar problems. she told me many stories of various jobs where people were out to get her. unfortunately she has not sought help, simply moved on to a new job. it's a terribly difficult situation to deal with. good luck!
blessings!
wow and double wow. happy paperworking to you... and be gentle on yourself - it sounds like there's quite a learning curve there.
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