I was a lead pastor for four years before resigning so I could dedicate my time to a family emergency. When I returned to ministry a year later, I never dreamed I’d find myself in a lead pastorate again. God had other plans, so I find myself on the night before Easter, musing about the places ministry has brought me in the last two months.

Prayer & Anointing

Last week, I had the opportunity to join other pastors in my area in leading a night of worship. During the service, there was a time of prayer and anointing, when anyone could come up and have one of the four pastors pray with them before anointing them with oil.

I noticed something that should be no surprise: most people went to their pastor to be anointed. But I noticed something else: most of the women came to me, the only one of the four pastors who is a woman.

I take prayer seriously. Or, at least, I try to take it seriously. Praying with others is one of those things that I have always loved to do, especially when it offers the space for me to step into another person’s heart, vulnerability, and hurt.

However, I have not done much anointing in my time as a pastor, largely because the communities I’ve been part of have not had a robust practice of anointing. After last week, I want that to change. I cannot know with certainty how I impacted those I anointed, but I can say that this pastor will never be the same.

The Scent of Oil

As I drove home after the service, the scent of the anointing oil filled the air around me. I could smell it on my fingers, even after washing my hands a couple times.

And each time I smelled it, I was reminded to pray for the people I anointed that night.

While the scent has long gone, the memory of that scent and the holy moments it filled continues to fill my heart. Throughout the day, I often pray for the people I anointed (especially the two friends who came to be anointed by me).

The Power of Multisensory Experiences

Engaging more than one sense at a time helps build stronger memories. Think about your favorite meal for a second. While food primarily engages your sense of taste, the appearance, texture, and smell of your favorite food also evoke stronger memories. In the case of a food like popcorn, there can even be the sound of its preparation to even further engage you.

So what does this have to do with prayer?

When I prayed for and anointed people, I engaged more of my senses. This did two things: (1) helped remind me to continue praying and (2) helped me break down barriers in my own mind.

I’ve already shared a lot about that first point, but I want to spend a minute sharing about the second. I am a person who loves with my whole being. When I care about someone, I’m all in. But sometimes I get so caught up in my head as I carry out ministry that I forget to let it fully engage my heart.

When I’m doing the pastoral prayer on Sunday mornings, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in making sure I remember everything. However, when I prayed with people one-on-one, anointing them with oil and embracing those who wanted to be embraced, it was impossible to lead with my head. Engaging multiple senses forced me to respond in a more heartfelt way.

And oh, how I want to continue to lead with my heart!

Easter Sunday

When Jesus rose from the grave, he ate with people. He invited people to touch his wounds. He engaged their senses. Jesus took the time to wipe away their tears and speak the promises of God to them.

May my faith never become something so dry and sterile that I forget the intimate, sometimes gritty, nature of doing life with others. May the scent of oil always remind me to continue to lead with love!