A friend on Facebook sent a picture of an older woman in a rocking chair holding a child. The caption: "One day you'll be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one." I had a lot of reason to think about that caption as I attended two services honoring pastors who served for many years.
"One day you'll be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one."
The first was a funeral for Eugene Condrey, who served our area for over 30 years. People from each of his churches were there along with pastors and friends from the ministry. At one point during the service a microphone was set out for anyone who wished to speak. Everyone told wonderful stories about Gene and his wife, Evelyn but there was one woman who said something, I will never forget.
The woman was a nursing supervisor for the home where Gene lived the last few months of his life. She talked of the love and respect she felt for both Gene and Evelyn and said, "Gene reminded her of dad. He had such a kind smile. She found herself drawn to him. When days became difficult she frequently visited his room just to be near. She didn't even know he was a minister at first, she just knew that he had a comforting glow about him that somehow helped her feel loved by God."
What a compliment: A comforting glow that helps you feel loved by God.
"One day you'll be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one."
The second service celebrated the retirement of Randy Harlow who also served faithfully as a minister for over 30 years. Again, there were people from each of the churches he served. Each church had someone speak about Randy and his ministry while he was their pastor.
One person spoke with pride of the people who started attending their church after Randy arrived and how their lives were changed. She proudly proclaimed how their little church started several new ministries in the community during Randy's tenure which are still active and meaningful today.
Another compliment: Started new ministries in the community which are still active and meaningful.
"One day you'll be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one."
I learned two valuable lessons:
Lesson One: Work on our glow. To have a glow displays a love and acceptance that helps anyone who comes in contact with you feel loved by God. For me, the glow is a symbol of a life lived devoted to strengthening your relationship with God.
The glow doesn't come naturally to gifted people, the glow comes from a life lived in prayer and in studying the Bible, being a part of an active church community and in a life dedicated to helping others. It's not something unique to ministers, it is actually more reflective of any life that is changed and molded by God. Anyone can have the glow... anyone.
Two: Start Something new. Whether a ministry or a gathering of people in your home. Start something new is a reminder that God has a unique purpose for each us. Our task is to discover what that purpose is and then work to accomplish it. Start something new is the challenge that gives our lives meaning and gives God an opportunity to work miracles.
Start something new isn't a challenge just for ministers or for churches but for all of us. Start something new encourages stepping out of what is comfortable and doing something different. For each of us the answer is different, sometimes scary, always exciting.
"One day you'll be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one."
Galatians 5:22-23: "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"
The glow comes from using the fruit we are given in a way that is pleasing before God.
Start something new is a challenge to use the fruit wisely in way that will show God's love to others.
- Work on your glow.
- Start something new.
The real question: Do you have the courage to try and do you have the trust that God will be with you?
"One day you'll be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one."
