Upon my being appointed to the College Hill Church, I was told of a retired pastor who I would like to meet. I began to hear stories of this sage, but only recently came to understand the full scope of that reality.
This pastor was recently hospitalized with a reoccuring condition. I had an opportunity to visit yesterday, and spent more than an hour in deep and lasting conversation with he and his wife. Today, I again visited, spending even more time in the act of learning.
For some reason, I have always valued relationships where I can learn from others. That may sound like a given for most of us, but I am sure that there are those in the world who find their knowledge too lofty to learn from another. I, however, value relationship, and especially those where I can simply listen and learn. I especially value my covenant group - these guys are foundational in my continuing conversation about vocation and ministering in today's world. Outside that covenant relationship, there are the moments of conversation with those who have "been there, done that" when I seem to learn the most - when I simply sit and listen. I become the learner.
As I continue to seek direction, God's leading, through prayer and meditation - today's lesson was most valuable. I'm not done processing, but I know it will go a long way into how God is moving, leading, changing and directing ministry today. I guess you could say that my lessons today were providential.
Thanks Be To God. And thanks be to God for my friends in ministry, the sages of life.
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2 comments:
How true it is...I got the same feeling about 6 weeks ago when I got to spend some time with a retired pastor from our Conference whom I also consider a sage. Good post!
We got to see the Larsens briefly over the holiday (and worshiped at Baldwin church); it's a real blessing to have wise and kind "mentors" in the faith.
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