Rethinking the past

I had an interesting encounter today. A pastor's wife talked to me today. She is from a church that I seldom attend anymore. That in and of itself is a wonder, because we usually just run in totally different circles. I could be paranoid and wonder if it is just cuz I got a decent job and now she wants to talk to me, but I think that is more what my parents would think and not me. I actually went to church this morning. After service, T---- approached me and started talking... (I must admit I was very stand-offish)

I have a lot of history at this church and not much good history with this particular pastor and his family. Not that there was anything particularly "bad" with the relationship, but we did not/could not relate. She opened up with my job and and her family. I was able to share a bit about running from God and Him bringing me back from the darkness. Her son is doing a similar thing (running). He used to be a good friend of mine, but because I moved so much we lost touch. Though I may disagree with the way the situation is being dealt with, I understand that there are real issues of grief and loss and pain associated with it. I was grateful for her honesty and openness with these issues.

Now this encounter along with one with her husband a few weeks ago make me wonder if God isn't trying to mend this relationship. At the very least challenging my presuppositions about them. It makes me realize that they are human too. I seem to have grace and acceptance for a good many people but pastors. Not because I put them on a proverbial pedestal, but because I simply don't trust them to lead me. They seem so removed from my reality that I don't rely on them.