Yesterday our dog walk through the woods was through a veritable ice-rain shower, one that made my face feel like it was being pelted by miniature ninja stars. I was cranky anyway, as I'd been having stomach issues all day and felt like garbage. By the end of the walk, I was downright... bitchy. I said something short to my husband, and he replied that for an aspiring clergy member, my words and behavior were not very reflective of that.
I wouldn't be surprised if you heard my eyebrows slam together just by reading that. I hate when he does that.
I mentioned it to him today, once I'd gotten into a better place, asked him why can't clergy be human and have mistakes and instances of bitchiness. He replied "because you're closer to God."
Nope.
I hate to think of any person as closer to God than another person. (Unless you're being the smart aleck who says someone older is closer to God than someone younger because likely the older person will die first... which husband also said.)
"But isn't the job of clergy to be closer to God?"
No.
I don't think anyone is closer to God than any other human being. People may look at clergy as closer to God, but I disagree. Clergy, to me, sometimes function as intermediaries simply because they are more schooled, more studied on the documents and histories of spirituality. I do think it is the job of clergy to be well-read on documents of multiple spiritual philosophies/religions. So, closer to God intellectually? Possibly. But not actually closer to God; God is always with us, in us, around us. Can't get much closer than that.
Amen.
I wouldn't be surprised if you heard my eyebrows slam together just by reading that. I hate when he does that.
I mentioned it to him today, once I'd gotten into a better place, asked him why can't clergy be human and have mistakes and instances of bitchiness. He replied "because you're closer to God."
Nope.
I hate to think of any person as closer to God than another person. (Unless you're being the smart aleck who says someone older is closer to God than someone younger because likely the older person will die first... which husband also said.)
"But isn't the job of clergy to be closer to God?"
No.
I don't think anyone is closer to God than any other human being. People may look at clergy as closer to God, but I disagree. Clergy, to me, sometimes function as intermediaries simply because they are more schooled, more studied on the documents and histories of spirituality. I do think it is the job of clergy to be well-read on documents of multiple spiritual philosophies/religions. So, closer to God intellectually? Possibly. But not actually closer to God; God is always with us, in us, around us. Can't get much closer than that.
Amen.