We had hoped to attend church this morning, but my cough and my inability to talk make attendance seem inadvisable. In reality, we've only missed one Sunday, but it feels as though it's been much longer. Has it really only been two weeks? It seems as though each day is vying for the longest day.
I'm pretty people needy and it feels as though a critical element to my day is missing. Both of my kids are texting or calling to complain that they've not been able to talk with me in way too long. Craig is saying that it has been three weeks. It has only been two weeks today. It feels like three months.
I feel abundantly blessed that my kids want my participation in their lives. It is a gift that many individuals my age live without. I am very thankful.
This past week, we watched a movie on Amazon Prime that struck a chord with me. It is the true story of a salesman-turned-pastor that accepted the pastorate of an Episcopal Church in a small town in Tennessee. The physical plant was stunning, but for whatever reason, attendance was waning, and the indebtedness associated with the building tremendously surpassed the church's ability to make the payments. The title of the movie is "All Saints". I highly recommend the movie.
The pastor's assignment was to support the church members through the sale of the property. Coincidentally, or perhaps Divine providence, an influx of immigrants from the country of Karen (Myanmar - Burma) found themselves relocated in Tennessee. As one might suspect, their needs were many as they made the adjustments from being in a war-torn country.
What they mostly needed was a way to support themselves. Historically, they had been farmers. The pastor with the assigned task of closing the church, had difficulty ignoring the unmet needs of those in their midst. The words of Christ chronicled by Matthew in chapter 25 weighed heavily on his heart:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' [Matthew 25: 34-40]
I found much encouragement from the hand of God in ministering to everyone associated with this church. As the story came to an end, it was not the ending, I began to envision as the storyline unfolded, but it was one that exceeded what I had in mind.
All My Best!
Don
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