Psalm 23:4 (KJV) - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
In the line of pastors that have served my church, I have had the great privilege in knowing three of them in my lifetime.
Each was unique.
Each had his own personality.
Each had his own style of oratory.
Yet, all three were men of God who utilized the gifts God gave them when they answered His call to the ministry.
My thoughts lately have been of the second pastor I knew.
He was the pastor who taught my confirmation class.
His son was also a member of that class and I consider the friendship I maintain with him to be one of the finest blessings God has ever bestowed upon me.
My reflections, however, revolve around the memories made about fifteen years ago.
My mother had to spend several days in the hospital as she underwent a battery of tests.
Whenever she was having them done, I would usually go to the lobby to get some coffee from one of the vending machines.
Each day, I looked over the registry posted in the lobby to see if anyone I knew happened to be admitted as a patient.
On one such day, I learned that the second pastor that I knew had just been admitted.
He had been retired for a number of years at this point in time.
Later, when my mother had returned to her room, we discussed her latest procedures and those that were still scheduled.
Afterward, I informed her that the pastor we both knew was in the hospital as well.
The following day, when her testing resumed, I walked over to the pastor’s room and saw that he was awake.
I knocked on the door frame and asked if he felt like having some company.
He invited me in.
I told him why my mother was there and that I happened to notice that he was a patient.
He didn’t speak about his condition but was genuinely concerned about Mother.
I assured him that her condition was not threatening.
I informed him that her doctor felt it would be better for her to be in the hospital until all the tests had been run and a plan for treatment had been established.
He agreed that this was a wise decision and said that he would pray for us both.
I thanked him.
We made general small talk but he did not go into any details as to why he was there.
A short time later, I could tell he was feeling fatigued.
I excused myself and told him I would drop by later.
I headed to the lobby for my usual coffee when I saw my friend, the pastor’s son, walk in.
We shook hands.
I told him why my mother was there and that I had just left his father’s room after a brief visit.
He told me that the news regarding his father was not good and that it was very probable that he did not have much time left.
I was stunned.
Before I could say anything, my friend added that his father was at peace with his situation.
We then parted company and he went on to his father’s room.
As I sat alone with my coffee, I prayed.
I wondered how I would break this news to my mother.
I decided that it would be best to wait until her testing was complete before I told her.
When I returned, I found her back in her room and she told me about the tests they had just run.
Her final tests were scheduled the next day and, in all likelihood, she would be kept one additional night before being released.
Throughout that day, my thoughts alternated between her and the pastor.
Later that day, I asked her if she would mind if I went to visit with him for a few minutes.
She told me to go as she was feeling better.
As I walked down the hallway to his room I had no idea what this visit was going to be like.
I arrived and saw him sitting on the edge of his bed reading his Bible.
I watched in silence as his finger underlined each sentence as he read.
He had a marvelously peaceful look on his face.
It was obvious that he was drawing strength from scripture.
This was a moment between the pastor and God that I simply could not interrupt.
When I got back to my mother’s room she remarked that I had not been gone very long.
I simply told her that this was not a particularly good time for a visit.
As I think back to those days and that moment in particular, I realize something very important.
That was one of the finest sermons my pastor preached!
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
In the line of pastors that have served my church, I have had the great privilege in knowing three of them in my lifetime.
Each was unique.
Each had his own personality.
Each had his own style of oratory.
Yet, all three were men of God who utilized the gifts God gave them when they answered His call to the ministry.
My thoughts lately have been of the second pastor I knew.
He was the pastor who taught my confirmation class.
His son was also a member of that class and I consider the friendship I maintain with him to be one of the finest blessings God has ever bestowed upon me.
My reflections, however, revolve around the memories made about fifteen years ago.
My mother had to spend several days in the hospital as she underwent a battery of tests.
Whenever she was having them done, I would usually go to the lobby to get some coffee from one of the vending machines.
Each day, I looked over the registry posted in the lobby to see if anyone I knew happened to be admitted as a patient.
On one such day, I learned that the second pastor that I knew had just been admitted.
He had been retired for a number of years at this point in time.
Later, when my mother had returned to her room, we discussed her latest procedures and those that were still scheduled.
Afterward, I informed her that the pastor we both knew was in the hospital as well.
The following day, when her testing resumed, I walked over to the pastor’s room and saw that he was awake.
I knocked on the door frame and asked if he felt like having some company.
He invited me in.
I told him why my mother was there and that I happened to notice that he was a patient.
He didn’t speak about his condition but was genuinely concerned about Mother.
I assured him that her condition was not threatening.
I informed him that her doctor felt it would be better for her to be in the hospital until all the tests had been run and a plan for treatment had been established.
He agreed that this was a wise decision and said that he would pray for us both.
I thanked him.
We made general small talk but he did not go into any details as to why he was there.
A short time later, I could tell he was feeling fatigued.
I excused myself and told him I would drop by later.
I headed to the lobby for my usual coffee when I saw my friend, the pastor’s son, walk in.
We shook hands.
I told him why my mother was there and that I had just left his father’s room after a brief visit.
He told me that the news regarding his father was not good and that it was very probable that he did not have much time left.
I was stunned.
Before I could say anything, my friend added that his father was at peace with his situation.
We then parted company and he went on to his father’s room.
As I sat alone with my coffee, I prayed.
I wondered how I would break this news to my mother.
I decided that it would be best to wait until her testing was complete before I told her.
When I returned, I found her back in her room and she told me about the tests they had just run.
Her final tests were scheduled the next day and, in all likelihood, she would be kept one additional night before being released.
Throughout that day, my thoughts alternated between her and the pastor.
Later that day, I asked her if she would mind if I went to visit with him for a few minutes.
She told me to go as she was feeling better.
As I walked down the hallway to his room I had no idea what this visit was going to be like.
I arrived and saw him sitting on the edge of his bed reading his Bible.
I watched in silence as his finger underlined each sentence as he read.
He had a marvelously peaceful look on his face.
It was obvious that he was drawing strength from scripture.
This was a moment between the pastor and God that I simply could not interrupt.
When I got back to my mother’s room she remarked that I had not been gone very long.
I simply told her that this was not a particularly good time for a visit.
As I think back to those days and that moment in particular, I realize something very important.
That was one of the finest sermons my pastor preached!
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com
