I just finished reading a book written by a monk from the 6th century. You might be thinking what I was thinking when I opened the cover. This should be exciting! (This is sarcasm if you didn't pick up on it.) And if that doesn't sound interesting enough listen to the title, "The Pastoral Rules." Now there is nothing I like better than a good book of rules. (You guessed it, more sarcasm.) However, I have to admit I was surprised by what I found inside. The introduction gives a brief history of his life. Raised and educated in an affluent family, he soon came to power as a high ranking government official. But then he had a close encounter with God and everything changed. He sold the family property, turned his estate into a monastery and then entered that monastery, not as the head, but as an ordinary monk. A number of years later, he was elected Pope despite his efforts to avoid election, believing he was unworthy of the office. 

So why am I sharing all this about this early church father? It is because he was a man of such unusual character. While in office, he created such reforms as the feeding of the poor and a commitment to a deep inner life with God for church leaders. The book he wrote, "The Pastoral Rules," was basically a book to guide those who aspired to Christian leadership, of the necessity they need in depth of relationship with God and of humility of heart with God and others.

As I turned the pages in the book, something in me was a little saddened by the culture we live in today. Now I have to admit I am very glad I don't live in medieval times, but with the driven culture we live in, it seems we may have lost something. Today, those who rise to the top in life and even in the church are often the most gifted or domineering, not necessary the most prayerful or the most humble. Productivity is often valued above relationship by our culture. I am not suggesting we don't need gifted or productive people in our church leadership, we certainly do. What I am suggesting is it might do us all well this summer to reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves - are we keeping first things first. Is our time with God first and foremost in our life above and beyond other things? Are our relationships with others more important than the things we accomplish? 

This humble monk who rose to be Pope, is known in history as St. Gregory the Great. (In case you were wondering, he did come up with that name.) He went on to accomplish more for the church than any Christian leader of his time, but his priorities were time with God and caring for others. In Luke 5:16 we are told that, "...Jesus often withdrew to a lonely place and prayed". With so much busyness around us and all the controversy going on in the church today, it is more important than ever that we draw close to God and show God's love to others before we act and react. We are in a world that desperately needs to see people of quality and character unlike they have ever seen before. I know that I can't be that person, and sorry to say, neither can you, but if God is in us and with us, we can be the light this world desperately needs and the person that God created us to be all along.

Carey Akin

Associate Pastor