I was thinking the other day about a time when I was called by God to jump up and go do something. My oldest daughter Alex had asked me if she could go to her friend Andrea’s house to play. When she asked, I remember thinking it is only down to the end of the street and left two houses. As a matter of fact, if there had not been a hill and houses in the way I could have easily seen Andrea’s house from our house. I told Alex to go ahead with the understanding that she was to be home by dark. She agreed to the deal and walked from our home to Andrea’s.
I remember, like it was yesterday, sitting and watching TV when suddenly I looked outside and realized Alex was not yet home. Something inside of me said to immediately leave the house and I jumped up and started walking, because I was “dad” scared. I fully intended to walk all the way to Andrea’s house and was preparing my “dad speech” about following the rules, when I saw her. We walked in the pitch dark toward each other until we met at the end of our street. Before I could say anything, Alex asked me a question in a way only an innocent child could ask. She asked, “Did God send you?” I remember thinking for a second, looking at her and then saying, “Yeah He did” and I can tell you it was my best “Dad speech ever.”
As we walked home the light from her countenance lit my way and hers, until we were home. You see the pitch black had turned to light instantly, for both of us.
I share this personal story because these appear to be dark times for our church, but that is not true. I can’t tell you how many times someone from my church family has said something to me at just the right time, or I look in the newspaper or online and see church members recognized for doing good things, when I see acolytes serving, our ministers preaching and teaching, Sunday school teachers, Lay Servants and readers, people preparing meals, and what about the lessons I have learned from people like Buddy Liner, Ken and Dana Higgins, Alma Broyles, Hal Buttram, Pat and Ric Chester, Neil Ensminger to mention just a few who I see as my mentors of Christ and Keith Church. At one time or the other I have looked at them and wanted to say, “Did God send you?” because the light of the countenance of these people, and everyone else like them, before and after, keeps the church from being dark.
My church family means the world to me and like you, I can’t wait to get back to what we know as church normal. In the meantime, I will continue to do church things including giving my offering, praying, and helping others where I am needed. My church, Keith Church, has been there for me in darker times than this and I know it has for you too. You and I are the light of Jesus Christ through Keith Church. I plan on keeping the lights on and invite you to do the same. I figure I owe the church that much for all it has done for me, and my family.
The Keith Church Blog 