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Be Prepared |
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Location: Blogs Brad's Blog |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 1/29/2009 10:47 AM | Greetings on this nicely overcast day!
The last few weeks in worship my sermons have concentrated on the kinds of things we need to do to start anew, to rededicate ourselves to God’s plan. Being open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, committing ourselves to doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with our God, and in preparation for all of it, repenting and giving ourselves over to God’s will. That last one is sometimes the hardest as we find it difficult to give up our will when it comes to following where God leads. Like Jonah, who was scandalized that God had actually redeemed those nasty Ninevites, we sometimes let our own preconceived notions or our own sense of justice and right get in the way of what God would have us do.
But there is no doubt that getting out of God’s way simply trying to follow where God leads, or that getting out of our own way by concentrating on what we do rather than worrying what others are up to, will lead us to the place where God can use us well. It is not easy, this setting aside our own comfort and predilections. But it is necessary. This past couple of weeks I have had a couple of interesting conversations or e-mail exchanges with folks about what all this preparation is about. When we ask God’s forgiveness, open ourselves to the movement of God’s Holy Spirit and pledge to follow a path of justice, kindness and humility, where will it lead us? Will it mean the accomplishment of grand goals? Will it mean that we will become some sort of Super People, able to solve the world’s problems with a single bound? No, I think not. It simply means that we will be ready to deal with whatever God throws our way, and each of us, in our own way, will be ready to act in ways big and small, when such action is needed.
Ready to act when a need in the community arises, like a need for clothing or food at local shelters. Ready to act when a need in our church family arises, like the prayers and support for folks who are hospitalized. Ready to act when grief visits a church member, through visits, food and prayers at the time of a passing of a loved one. Ready to act when we are most needed.
Several years ago when I was an Associate Minister at Peachtree Christian Church, several of us were in the midst of a meeting concerning outreach and community service. Sitting to my right were two of the dearest people I have ever known, Bob and Sarah Butler. Bob was a retired union business agent who drove in from Gainesville twice a week to run the clothes closet at Peachtree, serving dozens of homeless and needy folks in midtown Atlanta. When he found out I had been the grievance officer of a local union at one time, my stock had gone up dramatically in his eyes! We had great discussions and lots of fun when he came to do his work at the Clothes closet. But on this particular Sunday, as the meeting went on, I suddenly heard Sarah shriek, “BOB!” and as I looked over I saw Bob, ashen faced and stone still in his chair. I was sure he was dead.
Quickly, people sprung into action. One person ran for the phone to call 911. Becky Strange, a retired nurse, calmly told us what to do. She instructed me and another man to lift him out of the chair and lay him on the floor. She told someone to loosen his belt. She instructed someone to get a pillow or something to put under his feet. She got down on the floor by him, took his pulse, listened for breathing, cradled his head in her arms while lightly patting his cheek and calming saying, “Bob…Bob…can you come back to us Bob?” I remember that Carol wrapped her arms around Sarah’s shoulders and held her while they watched all this. And in a corner of the room, several people held hands, wrapped arms around shoulders and quietly prayed for Bob. There was no shouting. There was no hysteria. Just people who were prepared, Doing what they could do when they were needed.
After what seemed like an eternity, Bob started to flutter his eyes, color started to return to his cheeks and he began to come back to us. Looking around, a bit embarrassed, he caught Sarah’s eye and then, and only then, did she start to weep. He looked at her, smiled and said, “Oh hush Sarah, I’m not dead yet!” At which point we all broke out laughing and crying and the Emergency response team came in to take over. Bob went to the hospital where he checked out fine, the doctors unable to find anything wrong with him.
It may seem like a trivial thing, the actions of a few people on a Sunday afternoon, but I don’t think it is. God gives us all abilities and gifts, but it is up to us to be ready to use those gifts. And being able to fully use those gifts entails being prepared. In big and small ways. In ways that will impact thousands, and ways that will impact only a single person. It’s all important.
For an updated prayer and upcoming activities list, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
Announcements: don’t forget the Super Bowl party at the home of Charles and Debbie Kinney this Sunday at 5:30. Bring a dessert or an appetizer to share and root home you favorite team.
For Your Prayer List:
Jim Mowrey is at home, resting well, glad to be there. He and Judy thank you for your prayers and thoughts during this time of surgery, healing and restoration.
Please keep the family of Hun Hut in your prayers. She is a member of our sister Cambodian congregation and the mother of Sakhan Chiem and mother in law of Chiem Chim. There will be a time to visit with the famly and pay respects on Friday January 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Wages and Son Stone Mountain Chapel, 1040 Main St., Stone Mountain, GA. The funeral will be held Saturday January 31 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wages and Sons Chapel. The phone number at Wages and Sons is 770-469-9811.
I hope you can make it to worship this Sunday. This will be the first Sunday of the month and so we will be celebrating with “Praise on Peachtree” in the fellowship hall at 11:00. Have a great rest of the week.
Be peaceful,
Brad
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