I was chatting on-line with another over-aged “preacher’s kid” about how difficult it is for men of the cloth to find time for themselves. Even on vacation, they had to be reachable; most will leave contact info with their Senior Warden, of the President of Board of Elders, or whomever, but if it’s a situation that person can’t handle, it’s up to the Boss.
In my dad’s case, some of this may have been his own fault.
My dad had to go into the hospital for gall bladder surgery, and the doctor was explaining the procedure to both him and Mum. The doctor said Daddy would have to be at the hospital at some outrageous hour, they would prep him and take him up to ER at 9:00 and he should be back in his room by noon.
My dad turned to Mum and said, “that’ll be good. Then I can do my hospital rounds in the afternoon.”
The doctor smiled and replied, “Fr. Parker, I’m afraid that’s not how it works”.
I could just picture my dad traipsing through the hall of St. Agnes Hospital, IV pole in one hand, and sick call kit in the other.
thisendoftheswamp 
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