A First Love to Remember

“The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.” Rumi

Who doesn’t remember their first love?  Stomach butterflies.  The love notes.  The long conversations the two of you had about nothing at all.  Just listening to the person breathe was awe inspiring.  Everything the person did was awesome.  There wasn’t anything about them that was annoying or disturbing.  The way you met was divine.  Mentally you already married the person, had 2.5 kids, a house with the white picket fence.  Or, if a stationary lifestyle wasn’t your speed, the two of you would be nomads traveling the far corners of the globe together.

All was right with the world.  You may not remember exactly who saw whom first but all that matters is that you met when you did and meeting them made all the difference in your life.

I had that feeling when I first started in ministry.  I had that feeling when I first started climbing the professional ladder in public service.  Sometimes it’s important to remember that ‘first love’ feeling again.

As time went on I forgot and lost my first loving feelings as it pertained to me continuing my climb.  I had to follow my own advice.   To help me remember, I enrolled in a Women’s Leadership Cohort at The Brookings Institution; a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. It’s like a ‘think tank’ where they conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing a society at the local, national and global level.

Through the various assessments and assignments my passion for public service has been restored.  I’ve been reminded of my values and strengths.  Reminded of my why and today I remember!  The love, for my career and Clerical callings, has been restored.

If, no, when you find yourself, where I was, discouraged, remember you first loved God.  Remember when God called you by name and gave you your marching orders.  Remember the zest and pep in your step as your progressed through your seminary education and ordination track.  Remember your first counseling session and the nervousness you had of wanting to do a good job and help positively impact the life of another.  Remember your first sermon.  Remember your first communion as a Pastor.  Remember the first wedding, baby dedication or funeral you officiated.

Ministry, in particular Pastoral, is a lot like parenting; a thankless job but somebody has to do it!  In all fairness, every now and then someone does thank you.  It may be one out of every ten, just like the Lepers that Jesus healed but at least there’s one!  Sure, there may be a pastor’s anniversary or birthday celebration.  But for the most part congregants really don’t know all the behind the scenes labor that takes place.

Today, you simply remember…

ABOUT L.T. (Lisa) LEWIS

L.T. (Lisa) is an ordained elder and serves in a non–denominational Christian church, Sons of God Outreach (SOGO) Christian Ministries, in the Washington Metropolitan area.  She has been living a life of service to others for more than 30 years!  In the midst of serving she has raised and successfully launched two young adult children and is now an empty nester.  She is the Founder & CEO of Kick Boxing Believers, L.L.C. a spiritual empowerment & transformation business dedicated to helping individuals with the spiritual secrets to identify and kick limiting fears/beliefs keeping them from living a more joyful, healthy and abundantly faith-filled out-of-the-box life.

She blogs regularly at http://www.kickboxingbelievers.com/k-b-b-blog/.  She is also a featured author in the anthology “The Fearless Living Experience: Bold & Empowered Women Share Their Triumph Over Life’s Curveballs” available at Amazon.com.

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