Pileated Woodpecker

I just ran into another old acquaintance who suffers from Pileated Woodpecker Syndrome (PWS).  You won't find this in the medical journals.  It is a "Revism".
 
Pileated woodpeckers are woodpeckers on steroids.  Rather than the normal sized woodpecker they are approximately the size of crows or larger.  They are very common in northern Michigan.  
             
One of the pines in our front yard in Traverse City began to die and soon there were tell tale signs that pileated woodpeckers were visiting.  They peck huge holes in the trees in search of fine dining.  We didn't find the jackhammer like noise of the pecking annoying.  It was actually kind of cool.  They visited regularly and pecked and pecked away at the tree.  We began to wonder how there could be anything more to dine on inside because there didn't seem to be much left of the tree.  It was slowly disintegrating before our eyes.

One Saturday we left to run our errands only to return and find that the pileated woodpecker pine had collapsed across the driveway.  I wasn't sure what I would do.  How would I move the tree?  It had been dead for so long and was so depleted by the woodpeckers it weighed next to nothing.  It was easily moved.

I was reminded of this incident when I ran into an acquaintance from my Hope College days last weekend.  He was a student when I was a Chaplain at Hope and after graduating from Hope he went to Western Seminary across the street.  Our paths crossed frequently.  Besides being part of the clergy union he shares my addiction to basketball!  I asked where he was currently serving and he said he had recently left ministry and was currently painting.  I was saddened by the news and my grief increased when he said, "I got tired of being beaten up in the church all the time.  I couldn't take it anymore."  Then he said, "You probably can take it because you've got that football mentality.  I couldn't do it any more."

I call this "Pileated Woodpecker Syndrome".  And it is common among clergy.  Statistics indicate that 1,500 pastors will quit the ministry each month!  80% of pastors feel discouraged in their work (84% of their spouses are discouraged).  70% of pastors say they do not have someone they consider a close friend.  Pastors who work 50 hours a week are 35% more likely to be fired than those who work more than 50 hours per week.

It usually isn't one big thing that leads pastors to quit the ministry.  It is usually an accumulation of constant complaining and negativity, like daily visits from a pileated woodpecker.  Eventually pastors can't take it any longer and they fall over.

I have thought a lot about my recent conversation with my friend.  I've had times of difficulty, discouragement, darkness and loneliness in ministry.  I've been criticized publicly and privately, to my face and behind my back.  Some of it has been well founded and helpful; some, not so much.  But, for me, the days of joy, encouragement, seeing lives change, watching people and churches come alive, the sense that God is using me, yes me, in spite of myself have far outweighed the darkness and discouragement.

This doesn't make me any better, or stronger, or more courageous than any other pastor.  It only makes me thankful for God's grace and mercy poured out on my life.  "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."  (Psalm 16:6)

Today I feel bad for my old friend and other pastors who struggle with discouragement.  And I feel a great deal of gratitude for God's blessings in my life.

~Rev