We have been notified that we will be losing our current pastor and a new one will be coming. This makes the topic of first impressions foremost in my thoughts. So when I read my morning readings which included the book of Ruth, first impressions made an impression on me. :-)
When I read about Naomi, I do not get the impression that she is a kind, loving, lovable person. If you look at the Book of Ruth, you find that Naomi lost her husband, then her sons. She decides to return to where her family is from and tells her daughters-in-law to go home. To this point, we really don't know much about Naomi, except that her husband and sons didn't live long and that she felt some need to rid herself of the burden of two daughters-in-law (See 1:11-13) (Ok, there is my first hint at my impression of Naomi!) Then later when she arrives to her home town, she wants her name changed to Mara because mara means bitter and she feels so bitter. This helps seal my unfavorable impression of Naomi.
My first impression of Naomi is that she is a bitter old woman who lost everything and seems to enjoy the attention gleaned from being so unfortunate, a real martyr. This impression is reinforced by her desire to be called Mara. But if you look at the reaction of the daughters-in-law, my impression has to be wrong. If she were so bitter and played the part of a martyr so well, why would both daughters-in-law want to leave their country and go with her to her far-off country? Why would their parting have created so many tears? I need to rethink my impression.
Then later in the Book of Ruth, chapter 2:11, Boaz mentions that he has heard of Ruth and the good things she has done for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz's first impression of Ruth is positive. Her reputation got to him before she did. That is nice.....but can be bad if the reputation is less than gleaming.
Which brings me back to getting a new pastor.....word has a tendency to circulate between churches and pastors about what to expect of new pastors and congregations. I find that I do not always agree with the comments that help to form my first impressions of a new pastor before I meet him/her. I'm going to do my best to stop all discussion of the gifts and problem areas that others say the new pastor has. I will choose to close my ears, walk away, or otherwise stop the conversation. I want to form my own impressions. After all, as we see from Naomi and Ruth, just because one person (me) has issues (with Naomi) or is blessed by a person, doesn't mean I will feel the same upon further investigation. So, it is my duty to the new person coming to us to keep a positive, or neutral impression, until I can form one of my own based on my relationship with the new person.
Dear Jesus, Help me to see the new pastor as you see him/her. Help me to be part of the solution and never part of the problem. I ask for your assistance and nudging if I begin to fall into listening to what I shouldn't and forming impressions before appropriate. Guide my impressions and how I react to our new pastor. Help me build up and not tear down. With your help, Amen.
When I read about Naomi, I do not get the impression that she is a kind, loving, lovable person. If you look at the Book of Ruth, you find that Naomi lost her husband, then her sons. She decides to return to where her family is from and tells her daughters-in-law to go home. To this point, we really don't know much about Naomi, except that her husband and sons didn't live long and that she felt some need to rid herself of the burden of two daughters-in-law (See 1:11-13) (Ok, there is my first hint at my impression of Naomi!) Then later when she arrives to her home town, she wants her name changed to Mara because mara means bitter and she feels so bitter. This helps seal my unfavorable impression of Naomi.
My first impression of Naomi is that she is a bitter old woman who lost everything and seems to enjoy the attention gleaned from being so unfortunate, a real martyr. This impression is reinforced by her desire to be called Mara. But if you look at the reaction of the daughters-in-law, my impression has to be wrong. If she were so bitter and played the part of a martyr so well, why would both daughters-in-law want to leave their country and go with her to her far-off country? Why would their parting have created so many tears? I need to rethink my impression.
Then later in the Book of Ruth, chapter 2:11, Boaz mentions that he has heard of Ruth and the good things she has done for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz's first impression of Ruth is positive. Her reputation got to him before she did. That is nice.....but can be bad if the reputation is less than gleaming.
Which brings me back to getting a new pastor.....word has a tendency to circulate between churches and pastors about what to expect of new pastors and congregations. I find that I do not always agree with the comments that help to form my first impressions of a new pastor before I meet him/her. I'm going to do my best to stop all discussion of the gifts and problem areas that others say the new pastor has. I will choose to close my ears, walk away, or otherwise stop the conversation. I want to form my own impressions. After all, as we see from Naomi and Ruth, just because one person (me) has issues (with Naomi) or is blessed by a person, doesn't mean I will feel the same upon further investigation. So, it is my duty to the new person coming to us to keep a positive, or neutral impression, until I can form one of my own based on my relationship with the new person.
Dear Jesus, Help me to see the new pastor as you see him/her. Help me to be part of the solution and never part of the problem. I ask for your assistance and nudging if I begin to fall into listening to what I shouldn't and forming impressions before appropriate. Guide my impressions and how I react to our new pastor. Help me build up and not tear down. With your help, Amen.
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