Blessings in Disguise

We have all had a boss we don't like. That gets awkward in ministry because if you work for a church then you have to like everyone, right? I've been lucky to have worked in 6 different churches before Christ Church, and in those six places, there was one guy I worked for who seemed to have it in for me from day one. Most conflict arises from unmet expectations, and I didn't meet his for what a pastor should be. I wasn't good enough for him and he made it clear. I would get irritated because he would be less than truthful with me at times, indirectly devalue me, my work and my ideas publicly, and on at least one occasion I was told about, ridiculed me in my absence. I picked up on his distaste and sinfully and wrongfully made the situation worse by being a jerk in my own indirect (sometimes not so indirect) way, and was an equal transgressor in the whole thing, and in no way a victim. Even so, the situation was the darkest, most discouraging season of ministry I have ever experienced. BUT, had God not led me there, I would not be as close to as equipped as I am to do ministry. Although our personalities clashed, my difficult boss is one of the most talented guys I've ever been around, and not just in a ministry context. He is freak show smart, and the most organized person I've ever seen. Basically, all the things I'm bad at he is incredible with. I learned more about how to plan and structure a ministry by watching this guy for a year then I did in six years of formal ministry education. I'm not a strategic, linear thinker, suck at math and don't like details. God has given me a position where I need to manage a large ministry and do some of the things I'm not good at. Before I worked for this guy I didn't know how to do that, after, I did. (at least a little better) As I begin working on some structure/orginization aspects of my new ministry, I'm using some of the same phrases he did. I read my plans and hear his voice in the words on the page. I learned the most about how to do ministry from the guy I liked the least (seriously, the least by a lot). Now that I'm removed from the situation and look back on it without my immature anger and pride blinding me, I'm thankful for this man God put in my life because I'm using the things I learned from him to spread the gospel.