Pastors are said to be on call 24/7.
When I hear that appellation, “on call”, I cringe. We have had doctors lately who found that their family lives were devastated by the suffocation of constant accessibility. Oil crew workers get the same call and the divorce rate can attest to the problems that arise.
Today I was called to an unscheduled hospital visit. The patient is fine – the rush to the hospital a wise precaution.
The call came in the midst of other duties. My reaction almost surprised me! “This is what I’m here for!” No sense of infringement, or dislike or even reluctance. Of course, it doesn’t hurt when my wife was also eager to attend a visit to the hospital.
So we sat, chatted with relatives, prayed and provided what service we could. Perhaps this is really a case of “listening for the call” rather than feeling that I am “on call!”
BTW – I wish my attitude were always so pure! I need to be realistic and say that there are days when I prefer to run the other way! But today was a sign of what I how I would like to react!!