Friday Five: Take Me, Baby, or Leave Me

Okay, it's still Thursday. (Hey, guess what? It's my birthday!) But I'm gone at an all-day meeting tomorrow, so I'm doing the Friday Five early.

Five things people should know about me...

1. Yes, I am a pastor; and no, that's not the only thing I am.

I know pastors who think of themselves most fundamentally in that way: as pastors. Part of me admires the fullness of that commitment. And part of me thinks there's something wrong with that single-mindedness. Yes, I am a pastor. I love being a pastor. But I also love being a daughter, and a wife, and a friend, and a reader, and a goofy dancer in my underwear at home (oops! too much there) and a lot of other things. I find that people often talk about nothing else but church around me. Mostly, that makes me want to scream: I CARE ABOUT OTHER THINGS THAN CHURCH FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, DON'T YOU WATCH GREY'S ANATOMY OR LOST OR READ NEWSWEEK OR SOMETHING, ANYTHING ELSE WE COULD TALK ABOUT? PLEASE?

2. I love teaching.

Worship, too. I love that. But teaching - there's just something about helping people understand at a new level, or watching them put some pieces together, or helping open up a piece of scripture in a new way. That's good stuff.

3. I actually enjoy cleaning the bathroom.

It's weird. I am aware. But I enjoy the "it's clean, it looks clean, it smells clean, and I did that in only 20 minutes" aspect of housecleaning. It's a good antedote to pastoral work, which isn't particularly results-based. I do enjoy planting seeds. But every once in awhile, it's nice to see some growth. And I like things to be clean. Insofar as this is possible.

4. I don't hike. Or camp.

I realize this will horrify many people, especially in the nature-loving area of the country I call home. Too bad. This is an anonymous blog, and I feel like being honest. I don't like hiking. I've never really been camping, and I have no desire to go. I have no shame about this.

5. I am an introvert.

A surprising number of pastors are, as I understand it. I've gotten much better about being extroverted when I need to be over the past ten years. But when it comes down to it, I need alone time. Doesn't have to be much, but I do need it. I love reading and knitting and all kinds of interior, quiet things. I struggle to balance the needs of an introvert and the demands of pastor-work, but so far it's going okay.