My friend looked at me with wide, envious eyes as I recounted the different people I can turn to for support and encouragement. She had nothing like that.
Being a pastor can be extremely isolating. Even when working in team ministries, the pastor many times has to work alone and act alone. They also have to stand by their decisions alone. Within a church system, pastors are unlike anyone else, making their role very different from anyone else.
Denominations and seminaries talk a lot about the importance of a pastor's self-care in the midst of being so isolated. Over the past decades, there has been increasing emphasis on pastors getting out of their isolation. Because of this new emphasis on connection and collaboration, pastors like me are spoiled for choice. I have been encouraged again and again to find support in many different forms and to take advantage of opportunities that are made for me.
One of the blessings of organized religion is that there are many more opportunities for leaders to get support when they need it. Unlike my friend who feels like a lone ranger out there by herself, I have many places to turn.
And I do, because I couldn't do this alone.