We use big, air-conditioned tractors.  Ancient figures used oxen.   Beast of burden were essential to farming.  They plowed and hauled so that people could eat.  No oxen, no harvest.  

As oxen worked, they consumed vast amounts of food themselves and produced considerable amounts of waste.  The manger had to be restocked and, of course, cleaned.  This menial and messy work was a necessity.

People, like oxen, are messy.

People bring drama and disappointment, complaints and conflict.  

I used to joke, “Church would be really easy without the people.”  After the Pandemic of 2020, I realized that I deeply enjoy having people around, even if they bring messiness with them. No people, no mess, but no harvest.

The ministry of the church can only be done through the gifts and hard work of the people.  Along the way, shovels are needed to clean up the mess.

This is the call of ministry.

Pastor, hang in there. You’re doing good work.