Being an attached Priest also means being an available Priest, especially when the assigned Priests need a vacation. So August will be a traveling month as I serve the good people of St. Elias in LaCrosse, WI, for the next two Sundays as their Father gets a well deserved rest. Then its two Sundays at Mary’s Greek in Minneapolis, MN, so their Pastor can vacation as well.
I certainly don’t mind. It’s a valuable ministry to help fellow Priests get a week or two off so they can rest, relax, spend time with their families, and reinvigorate to better serve their own parish. It’s definitely been helpful at St. George, my home parish, as it allows our Priest to go on vacation and tend to important meetings without having to rush back tired on Saturdays.
And the truth is I like to travel, see new things, experience new things, and see what life is like on the other side of the hill. I’ve been able to serve in the OCA, Greek, and Antiochian traditions, meet new people, and even have a new audience for the same old jokes. For now its a good place to be.
Only God knows the future, what ministries, what places, what challenges lie ahead. For now people call, others approve, and I get in the car and make the trip. Somewhere another Priest is resting and that can make all the difference.
The Beautiful Path 