I seldom give attention to the applications that make their rounds on facebook updates. I really don’t care which M*A*S*H character I am or how many Huggy Bears I can accumulate. But one that did catch my attention recently was “What Personality Type are You?” Several friends were posting the results from a Myers-Briggs type test offered by the latest and greatest facebook app.
I did not need to take the test. Having been through several personality inventories in the past I knew exactly what the results would be: INtj. Translated and in reverse order that is slightly (j)udging vs. (p)erceiving; slightly more (t)hinking vs. (f)eeling; fairly strongly i(N)tuative vs. (s)ensing and always pegging the scale on (I)troverted vs. (e)xtroverted. I test as an extremely introverted person.
Those who know me well are not surprised by this at all. They know that I would much rather read a book than go to a party, hardly ever go to a mall preferring to shop online, easily get lost in my own thoughts, and am the quiet one in a noisy group. All these are a part of the life of an introverted person.
Some folk are surprised, however, that a very introverted person can make it as a pastor. They assume the pastorate demands an extroverted personality. But there are parts of the ministry best suited for an introverted person. Being alone in study or in prayer, understanding the interior landscape of spirituality, being quietly aware of one’s feelings and the feelings of others, able to step back and be reflective and analytical of dynamic situations; all these are things that come very naturally to an introverted person and are required for success in the pastorate.
Here’s the thing. The pastorate does not demand an introverted or an extroverted personality type. The pastorate demands many things, some of which come naturally to introverted people, some of which come naturally to extroverted people. The things I do naturally are, well, easy. The things I do not do naturally are the things that demand constant work and attention on my part.
So when you see me doing those things that come naturally to an extroverted minister, know that I am working very hard, may need encouragement, and always need a touch of grace. But know, also, that there are a host of things just as important on which an extroverted minister is working at very hard and, likewise, needs encouragement and grace.
What do you think? If you are a minister, what do you find easy and what do you find challenging? If you know me I would be very interested in your perceptions of me as an introverted person. I look forward to your comments.
Quiet Faith 