Gene Autry’s lyrics both date me and locate me, but I am back in the saddle again. I’ve had a wonderful respite for body, soul and mind during the months of my sabbatical. I have walked in the footsteps of saints and martyrs. I’ve traversed the breadth of Russia and much of Alaska. And I have left the ministry of the parish in capable hands in my absence.
For me, I suppose the most important thing I’ve learned is how much can get done without me. It is humbling, but more importantly it is freeing, both to me and to the church. I’ve often said that work in the parish, which does not require a collar around one’s neck, are not the priest’s to do. In fact, the priest finds himself doing much which is not necessarily his to do; but he does it anyway. And, the laity can be content with his doing it, too.
But, a Consecration was organized, a spectacular VBS was held, the liturgy was celebrated, the sacraments admin-istered, the sick were visited, new catechumens were enrolled,others were received, newcomers were reached out to. Parish life cont-inued to blossom and bear fruit.
Now, I will reassume those roles which are properly mine but attempt to avoid those which I perhaps lapsed into in the past. It is my hope to continue to equip saints for the work of ministry, but to let the saints do that work of ministry themselves. They have done so in my absence and I have every hope that they will continue in the future.
Back home, it might be said that I am moving from shepherding to ranching. A shepherd spends most of his time with his flock, providing direct “pastoral” care, in the pasture, no less. But his flock is, by definition, a rather small one. A rancher oversees a larger spread. He can’t ride to each lamb and provide direct care as he once did. His job is still to get the care to the flock, but his perspective is broader. Con-sequently, he delegates the labor and brings fellow-laborers to assist in his operation.
This summer offered us all a taste of that ranching experience. It is one I am eager to embrace and it is one which the parish/ranch has already.
“I’m back in the saddle again,
Out where a friend is a friend…
Whoopi-ty-aye-oh
Rockin’ to and fro
Back in the saddle again.”