JOSHUA 24:10-15
“Choose today”? “Whom I will serve”? Choose? Today? But I chose a long time
ago! Once and for all! I made that choice along with all the other girls and boys in my
Sunday School class. We all chose to attend the Pastor’s Class on becoming a church
member. Later on we all chose to answer the minister’s invitation to “Come forward
and confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.” We all chose
to line up on Easter Sunday afternoon, giggling in our bathing suits, covered with
proper white robes for baptism. We all chose to be immersed. THAT was THE DAY.
Now, 72 years later, I arrive at my Monday volunteer job. I see my Scrabble partners
waiting for me. As I begin to make my way across the big room to join my friends,
a new woman catches my attention. She is alone. Surrounding her are her sleeping bag,
coat, rain hat, and shopping cart, piled high with all her earthly possessions. She I smile.
She does not return my smile. I introduce myself; she tells me her first name. I’ll call
her “Maureen”. She seems open to the possibility of a conversation. But my Scrabble
friends are watching me, waiting, waiting. Maureen is not aware of them. She continues
to look directly at me, inviting my response. I must choose, choose today.
What an opportunity! And what a significant decision! I thoroughly enjoy my time
with my Scrabble partners, bright, funny, interesting young men. Here they are able to
shed the stigma of society’s label, “mentally ill”. Here we are equals, relaxing in the
experience of complete acceptance and respect.
Today I decide to visit with Maureen. Today I choose Maureen. I ask if I may sit
by her. She agrees. She is hesitant, guarded. She is alone in the world, living on the
street, feeling misunderstood, abandoned. She has taken a daring step by coming in to
this Center.
Today I chose to be an evangelist! In the process of getting acquainted, over a long
period of time, I have shared my belief in “the good news of God’s transforming love.”
Alexander Campbell, primary founder of our denomination, wrote, “The term ‘minister’
designates any servant, and belongs to every obedient disciple of Jesus Christ.”
Why have we usually associated the call to the ministry only with the ordained
clergy? Probably it is because we have rated preaching as more truly religious than giving concerned attention to the troubles of a distraught friend, sharing the grief of a bereaved neighbor, or defending the rights of an oppressed brother. But when we do this, we misunderstand the New Testament which rates service to human need above public proclamation!! (Matthew 25:31f.f.)
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for your transforming love! Help me choose to
share it today.
Amen.
Adelle Lemon has long been active in mental health work, peace, civil
rights and the farm worker movement, and is the proud mother of four
outstanding children and five grandchildren. She is active in Berkeley
Richmond Innercity Ministries and Tapestry Ministry in Berkeley