Surprise support

I was getting ice cream with a parishioner a few days back as part of my 'meet the vicar' campaign.  Typically these conversations have been much more about me getting to know the people in my community than about them getting to know me...that's partly because I find other people fascinating, and I find myself rather dull.  But regardless, we were chatting about hopes and dreams for HFASS, what the kids were up to, how vacation was, and all sorts of other things when she stopped me and asked:

what can we do to support you?

Um....what?  Support me?  Wait....

I didn't speak for a couple minutes because I was so shocked at what she offered me.  I had been spending the previous 5 weeks knowing in the back of my mind that this was a learning experience, and that I was in a classroom without walls, or an office, but yet had forgotten that.  I had forgotten that I was not a lone ranger in this ministry thing, and that people wanted to support me, and to see me succeed, and hold me when I failed.

This might not seem like the most amazing of revelations, but for me it was a great reminder that ministry is not just a one way street, with clergy doling out all the support, and not receiving any in return (except for text study groups, and other clergy, etc.).  Instead, at least on internship, there is an entire congregation of people here to support me, and foster my formation as a pastoral leader.  It was pretty incredible, and I remind myself of what my parishioner said every day, even as I try to figure out what that support can and might look like.

I'm pretty blessed to be here, and I don't want to leave in a year.