Thursday, March 9, 2006

1 Timothy 1:12-14

MERCY

¹²I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, ¹³even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

My recollection of a church family was non-existent. Rural farm life brought with it the customary visit of the Lutheran Pastor to our area every six months, performing the various rituals, i.e., marriages, baptisms, burials and the like all in one day! These events were, in a child’s mind, a time for playing with other children and running through the vast hall, not unlike our own Fellowship Hall. That’s exactly what it was, “fellowship” on a small scale. A time for fellowship and good food! When the Pastor arrived, I huddled with the masses in awe! Who was this strange man dressed in black, with the crooked neck? He frightened me! After all, he was different than anyone I had ever known. The image presented elicited curiosity.

The curiosity remained sufficiently to name my pet chicken with the crooked neck, “Pastore Hiironen” which was the minister’s name, and as hard as I tried, I was unable, after many attempts, to straighten the chicken’s neck so it would stand tall and proud and be healed. The image remained.

From this silly childhood event, the curiosity remained in that as I matured I found I needed to learn exactly what this strange man represented to me in my life and sought the counsel and guidance of a catholic priest. Father Sutula instructed me in catechism classes at the age of 16. Such a wise man! He advised me to seek counsel with the Lord in my daily prayers to carefully consider the step I was about to take reminding me that service to Christ was more than a ritual, but an appointment to faithful service in Him throughout my life. I felt ultimately I could not hold up my end of the bargain and went on in later life to seek out another. Pastor Weber granted me the insight to know and love the Lord as my heritage had intended. I was then confirmed in the Lutheran faith at age 21. Finally, my life began to have meaning and with that, learning my Lord was a forgiving Lord and would no longer hold it against me for waiting so long to find my way.

There comes a time in life when one, unexpectedly, loses their mentors in the faith… such has been the way when our Lord takes back that which he has given us. The human personage one looks up to for guidance and encouragement throughout our early years. They are gone now and have done their duty well. So very strong was their faithfulness they have left their mark on me on my pathway to Christ.

The Lord works in mysterious ways and his mercies endure forever.

Dear Lord, strengthen us all that we may faithfully serve you. May we now serve as mentors as those who have come before us. Overflow us with your love and teach us to serve with guidance and encouragement to all that seek your mercy. Amen.

June M. Gregory

junemgregory@msn.com