The phone rings and we pick it up. The tone sounds and we know an email just came in so we open it. A text message comes in and we are compelled to read it.

Lately I’m not making many people very happy. Their messages come at me left and right. They turn my days from good to bad in just a few minutes. Stress builds, anxiety compounds and expectations pile up faster than I can reduce the items on my task list.

Last week I got an emotionally- charged email from someone who told me that my failure to meet her expectations were making her think that it might be time to find a new church. She had stuff left over that did not sell at her yard sale and she wanted someone to pick it up for the upcoming church yard sale. I didn’t get someone to connect with her until several days after she called so she and her husband she were threatening to leave. I apologized. I didn’t want to.

Then there was the lady pitching a fundraiser. She said I lacked “Christian decency” because I wouldn’t set aside time for her to come in to meet with me. I apologized and again explained that I do not have the authority to launch fundraisers. Yeah, I let her down too.

Sometimes ministry stinks. I have periods where I would like to answer the phone, “Hello, this is Scott. Please tell me all the ways I have failed you. Let’s go alphabetically…”

Lord, help me to love people. Help us to love each other.

Col. 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the LORD forgave you. (NIV)