Pro's & Con's: The Sequel

I just thought of another "pro" to add to the list for being in fulltime, paid ministry!

Today, I was almost crushed by a 300 pound load of stuff falling on me while we were unloading a semi trailer. It came tipping in my direction -- helped along by another employee who didn't check to see where everybody else in the truck was before giving it a shove -- and I barely managed to twist out of the way. Wrenched my shoulder and for awhile I thought my collarbone was broken, but I'm alive and only marginally traumatized.

As I sat having lunch (by myself, of course -- see earlier posts), looking at the myriad of bruises and abrasions on my arms and hands, it occured to me that today's experience might be a good argument for being a paid minister: personal safety. Parishioners may take bites out of you every now and then, but 300-pound objects aren't typically falling, Monty-Python-style, in your personal space on a regular basis.

Just before quitting time, at the front of the semi, there were -- not one, not two, but eight more of these monstrosities that I had to get off the truck with a tip-and-roll dolly. Eight of the behemoths, waiting to finish the job their evil cohort had begun. Leviathan, the chaos monster of the deep. Grr.

With prayer, a hefty Guardian Angel (I can only assume), and many sore muscles, I unloaded all eight. Nothing landed on me.

It's all good.