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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
An Escort for Jesus
August 29, 2005
Dear friends,
Do you get nervous when you have to step up and speak in
a crowd? I thought I was beyond that until a few weeks ago. I
hardly think twice about what I am doing when I step into the
pulpit or when I perform a role on stage in Community
Theater. I rarely worry about falling on my face or saying
something inappropriate. I prepare ahead of time and then
trust my instincts.
Last month my daughter, Sarah, put me through a test when
she asked me to be her escort in Miss America’s
Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, Florida. I was
honored to be asked. All I had to do was walk out on stage
and present her to the judges in her evening wear. So why
was I getting so anxious about it as the day drew near?
An hour before the performance I was pacing in my hotel
room. "Why had I agreed to do this?" I asked my self. I
began to imagine all sorts of mishaps. What if I tripped as we
were going down the steps? What if I stepped on her
dress? What if the pant leg of my tuxedo got caught in my
sock or my shirt tail got pulled out and I looked completely
disheveled? It occurred to me that if I wasn’t perfect I could
ruin Sarah’s chances to do well in the pageant. I began to
rue the fact that so much depended on me.
I am happy to report that our turn came and I survived. We
smiled as we glided down the steps and out across the
stage. I looked at her and she was stunningly beautiful. I left
her and walked off the stage and it occurred to me then that
all of my worries had been for nothing. All the pressure had
been self induced. You see, no one was looking at me. I was
simply the one that delivered the true prize.
As I returned to my seat it dawned on me that the same is
true for so many of us as we seek to share the love of
Christ. I know a number of people sitting in the pews of our
churches who are so aware of their own humanity that they
feel unworthy to serve in the church or to witness their
faith. They are afraid that their own failings will be a
stumbling block to sharing Jesus. So they sit back and do
not accept the honor of presenting Christ to their friends
and neighbors. What a loss that is for them and for the rest
of the world.
You see Jesus shines best when he is seen with people
who love him and have experienced his grace. It all came
home to me on the second night of competition as I watched
seventeen other fathers walk their daughters onto the
stage. To see the look of love in their eyes said something
special about their daughters. So it is when we share Christ
with others. Our calling is to tell the world of the love and
grace we have experienced in Him. As we tell our stories,
Jesus comes through loud and clear. Our friends and
neighbors may notice our brokenness but the redemptive
love of Christ will be on display on center stage. We are
merely the escorts of the Lamb of God who comes to take
away the sin of the world.
So what are you waiting for? Jesus is calling on you and me
to escort Him onto the stage of this world. Don't worry about
how you will do. Smile, grab His arm and let Him lead the way.
Believe me, all eyes will be on Him and He will outshine the
sun.
God Bless. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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