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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"They Will Know Who We Have Been With"
June 19, 2008
The first thing she said to me was, "What kind of cat do you have?" I was
dumbfounded. I got to church last Sunday morning and I was greeting
people when this total stranger, a first time visitor to the church, asked
about the cat? I wasn't wearing any jewelry or sporting any buttons that
proclaimed my affinity for cats. My first thought was that she had psychic
abilities. Either that or we had a mutual acquaintance.
I told her about Misty and how we had her since she was a kitten. I
explained how my oldest daughter named her after Mr. Mistoffelees from
the musical "Cats". Then I asked her how she knew I had a cat. She
looked down at my leg and said, "I could tell by looking at the cat hair on
your pants." I looked down and was horrified. What a way to make an
impression on a first time visitor!
That morning Misty rubbed against my leg to show her affection and she
left a calling card in a massive coat of cat hair. I couldn't believe it. Caught
with the evidence all I could do was laugh. Misty had made more of an
impression on the woman than I had.
That is when the thought hit me that our faithful witness should do the
same thing. People ought to be able to see God in us and in the people we
serve. Every time we encounter a person in need, God ought to shine
through and the world should know that they have been in the presence of
our Lord. Why doesn't this happen?
Maybe it is because we go to great lengths to brush it off. I have to
confess that most mornings I pull out the lint brush before I go to church.
I don't want anyone to see the cat hairs. That is not the impression I want
to make on people.
The truth is that some of us think our faith is a private matter and so we
brush it off before we go out in public. We don't want anyone to see or
know that we are people of faith. Why? There are plenty of reasons.
Sometimes it is humility. Sometimes it is just plain embarrassment. We
think people won't understand.
Well here is the good news. That woman in church woman concluded our
chat by telling me she loved cats and was glad to know the pastor was a
cat lover too. The truth is that there are lots of people out there who need
to know that God cares for them. You and I are the only ones who can
bring that message of hope to life.
Maybe its time to let it go and let Jesus shine through us. Who cares what
people think? As a matter of fact when we run into people who are
discouraged and broken hearted, people who are looking for Good News
we will be welcomed with open arms. So let Jesus shine through and see
what happens. I bet you will end up making a great impression and even
God will be smiling back at you.
God Bless. See you in Church. Cal
June 19, 2008
The first thing she said to me was, "What kind of cat do you have?" I was
dumbfounded. I got to church last Sunday morning and I was greeting
people when this total stranger, a first time visitor to the church, asked
about the cat? I wasn't wearing any jewelry or sporting any buttons that
proclaimed my affinity for cats. My first thought was that she had psychic
abilities. Either that or we had a mutual acquaintance.
I told her about Misty and how we had her since she was a kitten. I
explained how my oldest daughter named her after Mr. Mistoffelees from
the musical "Cats". Then I asked her how she knew I had a cat. She
looked down at my leg and said, "I could tell by looking at the cat hair on
your pants." I looked down and was horrified. What a way to make an
impression on a first time visitor!
That morning Misty rubbed against my leg to show her affection and she
left a calling card in a massive coat of cat hair. I couldn't believe it. Caught
with the evidence all I could do was laugh. Misty had made more of an
impression on the woman than I had.
That is when the thought hit me that our faithful witness should do the
same thing. People ought to be able to see God in us and in the people we
serve. Every time we encounter a person in need, God ought to shine
through and the world should know that they have been in the presence of
our Lord. Why doesn't this happen?
Maybe it is because we go to great lengths to brush it off. I have to
confess that most mornings I pull out the lint brush before I go to church.
I don't want anyone to see the cat hairs. That is not the impression I want
to make on people.
The truth is that some of us think our faith is a private matter and so we
brush it off before we go out in public. We don't want anyone to see or
know that we are people of faith. Why? There are plenty of reasons.
Sometimes it is humility. Sometimes it is just plain embarrassment. We
think people won't understand.
Well here is the good news. That woman in church woman concluded our
chat by telling me she loved cats and was glad to know the pastor was a
cat lover too. The truth is that there are lots of people out there who need
to know that God cares for them. You and I are the only ones who can
bring that message of hope to life.
Maybe its time to let it go and let Jesus shine through us. Who cares what
people think? As a matter of fact when we run into people who are
discouraged and broken hearted, people who are looking for Good News
we will be welcomed with open arms. So let Jesus shine through and see
what happens. I bet you will end up making a great impression and even
God will be smiling back at you.
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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