American Heritage Dictionary:
Flourish: 1. To grow well or luxuriantly, 2. To fare well; succeed; prosper
Webster’s New World Dictionary:
Flourish: 1. To grow vigorously; thrive, 2. To be at the peak of development
Flourish.
It’s the hot new term for pastors. Following the Greatest Generation’s sacrificial service…to Boomer’s attempts to re-align “outdated” priorities….to Millennials’ motto that “We don’t live to work; we work to live”…to however Gen Z, Alpha and Beta may eventually position themselves, the challenge to flourish has grabbed the attention of pastors of all ages.
Craig and I…have questions. Let’s dialogue, shall we?
I’m going to assume proponents of pastors’ flourishing would concentrate on the first definition quoted above for flourish—”to grow vigorously; to thrive.” We can certainly all agree that pastors definitely should be growing spiritually, but the addition of thrive adds more descriptives and hints at the possibility for other motives. Does that then lead to pressure to be successful?
What does flourishing to the point of thriving actually look like? Is pastoral success – whatever that looks like – the assumed/required outcome of flourishing?
Does this add an element of performance—one’s attempts to appear successful? And what does that possibly add to the “posturing” and “positioning” on various social media?
We all are repeatedly reminded in Scripture to be Christ-like. Did Jesus come to flourish? Would you describe him as flourishing on earth?
Does the Good Shepherd’s “laying down his life for the sheep” fit the image of flourishing?
Did Peter flourish? Did Paul?
Does the image of the “Servant Shepherd” bring flourishing to mind? Are serving and flourishing mutually exclusive? Is a flourishing servant an oxymoron?
At the risk of being accused of being experiential, I still must add that, when Craig and I discussed this, we listed a number of times when we judged neither of us flourished:
1.When one or both of our sons went through a tough season
2.Any of the occasions when Craig was let go/released from a position
3.At the death of our older son
4.The yearly anniversary of Robb’s death—getting through December every year
5.Major moves to relocate
6.Working through difficult issues in our marriage
7.Deaths of family, friends, those we ministered to
8.Conflict in our ministry
9.Learning of major health challenges and/or diseases for us and/or family members
10.Grieving….a multitude of life experiences
I can’t say that we ever strove to flourish; instead, we tried to faithfully serve God and his people, doing what God called us to do. “Normal” life meant that it was very much like Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. There was a time for everything—the good, the bad, the ugly. We hung on. We kept going.
We served because our hearts desperately desired to do so. But flourish? Sometimes. Overall? Possibly?
Many connotations come to mind when I think of flourishing as a pastor or pastor’s spouse. And quite frankly, they’re outward signs: They can be a facade rather than real…they’re viewed rather than truly “of the heart”…and I feel pressure for an expectation that I must live up to.
Anyone agree? Disagree? Your thoughts?
Next up: The case for Paul’s “Boasting about his sufferings” in II Corinthians 11:16-12:10