jambo
Puritan Board Senior
I was preaching this morning. Normally I love my breakfast but on mornings I am preaching I do not enjoy breakfast as its hard to eat due to the nerves in the stomach. It would be easier to do without breakfast on such a day as this but as a diabetic I really need to eat.
When I arrive at at church I watch those arriving all relaxed and almost envy them not having to get up before people and speak. If I have to write anything down prior to the service my hand shakes that I can hardly make out my own writing. As the person leads and my time to get up and preach gets closer my heart begins to beat faster. "Just after this hymn I have to get into the pulpit..."
What gets me is that I have been preaching for 25 years and I am as nervous today as I was all these years ago.
I recall reading about one Hugh McAil, one the Covenanters, who as he climbed the steps to the gallows said he found it easier to climb the steps to the gallows than the steps to his own pulpit.
I would be interested to know from others who have been preaching for a number of years if nerves still affect them.
When I arrive at at church I watch those arriving all relaxed and almost envy them not having to get up before people and speak. If I have to write anything down prior to the service my hand shakes that I can hardly make out my own writing. As the person leads and my time to get up and preach gets closer my heart begins to beat faster. "Just after this hymn I have to get into the pulpit..."
What gets me is that I have been preaching for 25 years and I am as nervous today as I was all these years ago.
I recall reading about one Hugh McAil, one the Covenanters, who as he climbed the steps to the gallows said he found it easier to climb the steps to the gallows than the steps to his own pulpit.
I would be interested to know from others who have been preaching for a number of years if nerves still affect them.