One of the areas I often beat-myself-up over is that I am not a "people person." This is also an area where people often like to let me know their displeasure at me not meeting this expectation of theirs (while insinutating there is something wrong with me). Ya know, I have read and re-read Maxwell's book on "How To Be A People Person", and I WANT TO BE a people person. It's not that I don't like people AT ALL! But the truth is... I'm just not. It's a struggle for me. I have trouble with one-on-one conversations. My mind works better at dealing with tasks. My first instinct is not 'how someone will take something' it's 'how can we get this done.'
Task-oriented people are needed. And sometimes people-oriented people need to understand this. But that doesn't mean we task-oriented's don't still need to work on our people skills.
Anyway... why am I thinking about this? Last night an old friend called that I used to work with at Van Packer Chimney Company. I worked with sheet metal, and ran a welding machine when I left there (I seamwelded 20 ga. stainless steel pieces together). At any rate, he had seen a movie where they had a "goofy" pastor, and he thought of me, so he managed to locate my phone number and give me a call. I'm glad he did. But it got me to thinking about my "pre-pastor days." I have almost always worked alone. Not that there weren't other people around me at the factory, but I had my little "area". And when I worked along I-80 for ten years, I was alone. Most of my time now is spent alone.
I realize you might be thinking, "But a pastor should be OUT THERE - with the people." Yeah, you're right. That's maybe my weakest area - visiting with people; hanging with people; relating individually to people. But you know what... that doesn't mean there aren't advantages to being a task-oriented pastor also. Someone needs to see that things "get done." It also allows me to spend good amounts of time reading, and studying, and praying. And I think those things are important too.
Well, I guess maybe I'm just trying to justify something to myself here. Probably either that it's okay for me to be a task-oriented pastor; or that I should be a pastor at all. I don't know. I really wish I were more of a people-person. But I don't really like it when people insinuate that I'm a bad pastor because I'm task-oriented. Or that I'm a bad "person". Whatever.
I gotta change my sermon. I just remembered something I meant to talk about, but forgot. Leave me alone for awhile, okay. (Just kidding. Task-oriented humor can be so hard to figure out). :)
Peace.
4 comments:
This is so familiar to me! My sister is the task lady and I'm about the people. I don't think people should try to change who they were made to be, then they get miserable and can't relate to anything. Our church has a visitation team... some of us who are into people get together every 6 weeks and go visit. That might let you off the hook a little. Find some who are into that and send them. The church should run like a body... you are one man and can't be expected to be all to all! We have 7 Pastors at my church and our senior Pastor isn't the one who goes to visit or any of that... he is not a social sort... he's a task man too and he's awesome and wouldn't want him to change! Wow I really do ramble... sorry!
Hi Debbie,
As I've said before... feel free to ramble. :) I would have guessed you to be a people person. :)
Thanks for sharing about your church. Yes, I wish we had a visitation team. Unfortunately I have a staff of "me" and not a whole lotta people willing to step out and "do" things. But I might show your comment around a bit - see what happens. Thanks.
peace & blessings,
Dan
I get pressure to be a people person, too. And then I think of Jeremiah and Paul and John the Baptist. We can be faithful preachers and ministers without being people persons, but we'd better expect to be treated like the biblical men who weren't. In other words, we need to be ready to be sacked at a moment's notice.
Milton,
Very good point there. Not that I like it, but it's true. Thanks for the input.
peace,
Dan
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