Where your heart clings, there is your God
August 12, 2018
A Life Changing Visit
... ‘I think all those who save, not defile, God’s creation should be exalted. The woman who gave the update on your Right to Life mission troubled me. There was no concern for the real world and practical steps to heal people’s lives. She was followed by a man. He invited your people to give to your ministries. He was so dismissive of needy people in his comments. The motivation sounded hard, not loving. He worships a rule-based theocracy. I do not understand these divisions, for all are insufficient. The righteous are like those they condemn. The devils of this world are present in everyone. Your people believe, but they cannot hear, see, or feel love for the needy. Your church is a wondrous marvel for video and audio, but no one can walk to your church. I see your church running from the real world not serving it. As the widow offering her mite gave the greatest gift, a person serving even one other person is great in the eyes of God. If they serve with love, without judgment, generously meeting their need it is pleasing to God, more pleasing, than all your celebration and outreach. When I hear the prayers of the people they are paupers of Spirit. In their own image of themselves they are adorned on par with angels. It is as cloying and choking as a room filled with incense. I do not know these people. I enjoyed your service, but I find your people needing to graduate to the real world. You cannot live in the Kingdom of Heaven by separating yourself from the ills of the world. Healing the world is your mission. Many who say they are assured of salvation are only fooling themselves. They are not listening; really listening.’
I was going to say he must have walked to our church, but he threw me with his next demand. ‘You must talk to Pastor James, tell him my fears, ask him to refocus his ministry on all people. Exorcise himself from demons that turn his healing away from the needy.’ I was stunned. I barely know the pastor. I am to convey a message from this itinerant preacher? A man who must have hitched a ride to church, or maybe an Uber. I astounded myself, as I replied yes, I will relay your message. He then reached out touching the side of my head in a most reassuring way and asked, ‘what were your prayers?’ I said I had so many images of people many from home. I didn’t pray for anything, but I felt I would go home. Really go home not visit. I could find work, it costs less to live there. I had hoped to meet someone in this church with whom I could make a commitment. I won’t find many people who fit that category back home. He inquired, ‘No one came to mind in your prayer?’ I had to admit one person had, but I minimized that as a possibility. He stated, ‘Go find your true self, and all things will find you.’ He walked over and sat in prayer again. I did as well. I felt many things, I thought many things. I felt an assurance of my next page in life. I arose looked around; it was later in the day. I was alone. Where the itinerant preacher had gone I didn’t know. I paused to soak in the beauty of the world from this overlook one last time, and then hiked back down. I almost convinced myself I had invented an imaginary friend, but when I got in my car the visitor welcome bag was sitting on the floor. “
Look back to Galena IL — The Driftless Area
I asked, “You are headed home, now. Is it for a new life?” ...
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