"I am coming soon.
And my reward for you is with me."
Revelation 22:12
The entertainment award season is upon us - the Oscars, the
Emmy's, the Tony's, the Grammy's, the Golden Globe, the People's Choice...even
the Razzies (an Oscar spoof - awarding the worst movies/actors). It's a time of year when artists of all kinds
are told "you done good"...and here is the highest accolade we can
give you. For the category of "Best
___________"...the nominees are....May I have the envelope please...and
the award goes to ___________________.
Applause. Acceptance speech,
etc." We've heard or seen it many
times.
While watching the least hour and a half of the Oscars the
other night, it struck me that most of the jobs people have and do...receive no
such red carpet treatment. Who gets the
award for "Best Nursing Care of a Trauma Victim Between the Hours of
Midnight and 6:00 a.m."? What about
"Best Burrito Made for Minimum Wage."? or "Defensive and Polite Driving a
Bus." or "Most Childhood Booboos Kissed in Calendar Year." or
"Best Remodel of a Bathroom." For
most occupations, there are no award shows or trophies handed out.
In my own work realm, Adventist pastoral ministry, there are
no award categories either. But what if
there were...
·
"Most tactful delivery of a wedding homily
where the bride was obviously pregnant."
·
"Best eulogy for a reprobate."
·
"Best letter written in response to a
person asking to have their membership removed."
·
"Best attempted reconciliation of feuding
church members."
·
"Most organized church board
notebook."
·
"Best polite comment made after eating
inedible potluck food."(photographs and recipe submission required.)
·
"Best explanation of the 2300 day prophecy
to a person under 15 years of age." (study handout submission required.)
·
"Most phone calls received using the pastor
as directory assistance."
·
"Longest Board Meeting Endured" (agenda submission required.)
Pastor's are no different than the rest of the population of
the human work force. We don't expect to
be featured at the Kennedy Center Honors or told how wonderful we are. We know that the greatest award ceremony is
not of this world.
