Pastoral work

There are some aspects of pastoral work that are both extremely humbling to be a part of and also bone crushingly painful. When tragedy strikes that can be both. I'm humbled that somebody would turn to me in their time of need. I'm just a guy trying to muddle through this life like any other yet I have an opportunity to offer words of comfort and solace. Yet the only way to be integrous through the process is to accept some of their pain. This is more than empathy, this is joining them in the journey at whatever point they are at and continuing to walk down the path together. It can be painful at times. I suppose it gives me the smallest glimpse at what Jesus did for us on the cross, and again I am humbled.