This week, I would like to take a few minutes to tell you about a new friend that I made last week.
Her confident, yet gentle demeanor seemed to demand and deserve respect. She arrived with her church group two Sundays ago, and I felt an immediate connection to her spirit. She is a United Methodist pastor from Illinois and her name is Pastor Harlene. Pastor Harlene is a wonderful woman who has been in Pastoral ministry for 15 years now. She is the Associate Pastor of a wonderful church with a wonderful group. My admiration for her continually grew for her throughout the week.
In our first conversation, we were speaking of cultural issues with her being an African-american Pastor in a predominately white congregation. She seemed so proud of her congregation for the progress they were continuing to make toward being a culturally diverse congregation. Not only was it a proud response, but it was a response filled with confidence that God would continue this good work! Praise you Father for reminding me that you came to reconcile all of us unto Yourself!
Our next encounter of significance occurred at the Buffalo Jump. The Buffalo Jump is a 70 ft drop off where the native would kill herd of buffalo. Pastor Harlene bravely yet a little nervously decided to walk down the side and around the entire Buffalo Jump. I am pretty certain that she would have like to turned around after the first few steps, but I encouraged her that it might be easier to continue going around than to turn back. I thank her for trusting me. We spent a great deal of time slowly working our way around the buffalo jump with her right behind me and sometimes finding balance by holding my shoulders. She would never realize this, but it meant so much to me to watch her amazing perseverance! We stopped often but never permanently. What wonderful conversation and fellowship we had together.
The final significant encounter came on Thursday night after club and church group time. I was not feeling great and I was a little frustrated about some things. I was down on myself for something I couldn't control. As I was sitting in the kitchen reading the gospel of Mark, Pastor Harlene came in and asked if I would be willing to serve communion to their group. HOLY MESS! Who am I to serve communion to anyone. Sure I have served before, but this was different. I felt so humbled and so honored all in one big swipe. I told her I would be happy to serve communion with her, and so we did. She offered me an opportunity to share some insight with those present and I believe God used me to speak into the hearts of some students that night. I feel like there may be some even greater point to this encounter that has yet to be revealed, but we will see. Anyways, it was a beautiful communion.
I am not sure why I felt it so important to tell you of my new friend Pastor Harlene, but I did. I am not sure if I will ever see her again. I am not even sure if we will ever speak again. What I am realizing through this post is we should not take any opportunity for granted. We should live our lives trying to embody the ideals of Jesus Christ and longing to be Christ to others. Pastor Harlene may never know the impact her simple presence had on me, but that does not change the fact that it did. When we long to reflect Jesus to others, we will continually find him in the faces of those that we meet. I'm just sayin'.
Lord Jesus, help us to reflect your glory onto others. Work through my friends and I to make a difference in someone's life the way Pastor Harlene has mine. Help us to be your hands and feet. And Father, I pray that nobody ever remember us for anything we did or said, but that they would remember us for who we serve...you! Amen.
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