Small things and miracles

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Adams's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

I am not a particularly confident pastor and preacher. I don't think I am neurotic about it, but I do harbor my own sense of doubt. It's not that the doubt freezes me in place and keeps me from functioning. It's more the kind of doubt that sits off in the corner somewhere, creeping up now and then to poke at me, asking questions like, Does anything you do really make a difference?

Yeah, I know. It's not about me. I get that. I also get that I am not now, nor will I ever be, Jesus. But I sometimes wish I had some mighty superpower, some dramatic gift, with which I could help our congregation and our community be better than they are. To do something for a dying member, something more than just saying a prayer. To say something to a member in pain, something more than just, "I am here for you."