As I Was Looking Around…

About thirty minutes ago I arrived home from church and our weekly Sunday night service. I am not quite sure what else to do on a Sunday night as that is where I have been for the past 52 years on Sunday night, in church.

Tonight was a communion service. A great joining together with songs about the cross and the subject of the sermon, “Remember When”. I was paying attention to all of that, I promise. But I can also multi-task in church at times.

Tonight, I was in a reflective mood as we all should be as we consider the partaking of the Lord’s Supper. But tonight was a little different, for some reason. I began to look around and observed many others also in the service. And while listening and reflecting I was also observing of what God had done in others and some of them I do not even know.

Andrew Peacock was behind me. I thought of his support for me as I walked through a tough valley not that long ago. I thought of his recent engagement and the dreams that God has placed in his heart, his compassion for people, his willingness to give up a kindney so that someone else might live. I thought to myself, I want to be more like Andrew Peacock.

I noticed an elderly gentleman toward the front confined to a wheelchair and in middle of one of the songs I was captured by an otherwise weak hand that went so gracefully upward toward heaven as a way of saying thank you.

I looked over and watched for an extended period Wallace and Susan Edwards. Now long married as high school sweethearts, he a football star, she a basketball player, both with opportunities to play college sports, yet they gave up their individual dreams and wishes to unite their lives and their love. She sat proudly beside him with her arm through his, both having forsaken all else for the sake of Christ and for the sake of each other. When I watched them, it was as if they were one person, not two. Joined together in matrimony, joined together in communion with God.

As the altar call was given before communion was served I did not bow my head as instructed as I was looking around. I noticed individuals, couples and young people go to the altar to settle an issue before partaking of this Holy supper. I wondered what issue, what heart felt matter they had taken to the altar of God and had left there.

I watched and listened as Jud Burton, the Vice-Chairman of the Deacons prayed for the communion bread. I could not help but wonder what he would pray for as his wife Lynn is in a serious health challenge. Jud could not speak at first, broken up by the moment and as he begin to pray he simply and beautifully reminded God of a specific date in his life when He had accepted Christ. Tearful, heartfelt, impacting me as to my remembrance of my own experience.

So tonight, as I reflect upon my own walk of faith, I am encouraged by the faith of others, who not even knowing that I was watching blessed my life…on this night…as I was looking around.

JHH