easier said than done.
saturday night, i was at an interfaith discussion on justice... what if rev. dr. MLK jr. and president obama met? it was a small group--a panel of three brilliant religious leaders of the bay area, and a group that could fit around a table. so, after the panel each spoke for ten minutes we introduced ourselves, name stats, religious group. i gave my name. said i used to work for one of the panelists (yes, that would be brc) but didn't mention my current pastoral position.
so brc of course says "and what is your job?"
and i reply, slightly annoyed, "well, i am your assistant."
"no, your other job." laughter ensues.
"oh, right. i am a pastor. fruitvale presbyterian church, oakland."
when is it going to become natural, easy, fluid, to say "i am a pastor."
to own it?
this has happened to me before, it is becoming a pattern really. the year before seminary, similarly in a public forum, i was asked by a writer, kathy y. wilson, who was presenting at a leadership workshop i organized, what i was going to school for. "theology" i said with a lift to my voice, a tilt upward, unsure with the last syllable.
she owns who she is. and with my less than confident response, she challenged me to do the same, a message that i have carried with me for years, ever since.
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