I am a minister and a veteran; to me, both of those have been God’s calling for my life.

Recently, we celebrated Veterans’ Day. It was a chance to remember all of those who sacrificed time, energy, attention, youth, and years in the United States Armed Forces. So many bear wounds, seen and unseen, and trauma from events that have occurred. But on that day, people all over stop and say, “Thank you for your service.” People also give lots of random free stuff: free coffee, free donuts, free meals, free oil changes… As a service member, I’m not always certain how to respond. I am thankful they are thankful, but it also causes me to reflect on the time I’ve spent in the military and the time I still have left to spend. 

For me, one word sums it up: sacrifice. Serving in the military causes you to sacrifice time—for travel, for training, for deploying, for more training. You sacrifice your energy, pouring constant thought and action into the things that have to be accomplished. You sacrifice within your relationships—I’ve missed birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, major events, weddings, funerals, numerous sports events and school programs, and time watching my kids grow and change. You sacrifice your thoughts, worrying about the service members under your care. You sacrifice freedom—I don’t get to set my own calendar or agenda; if the Navy calls, I must respond. 

To serve is to sacrifice. Yet, people do stop and acknowledge us for the work that we have done and continue to do. And for that, I am thankful.

For many in ministerial leadership, however… you often aren’t thanked for your service. That’s true even though you, too, accepted a calling that few choose to take up. You, too, sacrifice for the sake of others. You sacrifice your energy, being present in hospital rooms and homeless shelters and living rooms and over cups of coffee. You sacrifice within relationships, often having to respond to crises that tend to occur at the worst possible personal times. You spend sleepless nights worried about the flock under your care, praying over people who have gone astray or are dealing with addiction or are struggling with faith. 

To serve and lead is to sacrifice. And few stop to thank you for your service. Often you hear what is “going wrong,” and rarely what people are thankful for. You hear the hardest stories and only rarely the successful ones. You see the struggles and addictions and families hitting their breaking points, and you aren’t certain how to help or respond. You bear the responsibility of the Church… And you know that it is the Lord’s Church, but it often weighs heavily on you.

The apostle Paul wrote of this burden in 2 Corinthians 11:23b-28:

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches…

Paul writes about all of his sufferings… and then says “My concern for the churches is greater than all those things!” 

So I want to say… Thank you for your service. I thank God for your leadership and your sacrifice. For many, it goes unseen by the congregation and unacknowledged. But know that you matter, you are valued, you are important to God. Not for what you accomplish (although thank you for those things!), but because God loves you and values you and cares for you.

Thank you for your service. May God continue to be close to you, fill you with his Spirit, and give you his peace.