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From Rev. Brock Patterson
“First or Last?”
After completing my undergraduate degree at Baylor University, I worked in the finance industry for many years before answering God’s Call in my life. At the time, many banks, insurance companies, and brokerage companies required their potential staffers to take personality tests. These tests were designed, in part, to tell the companies if a prospective employee had the proper mentality for working in the open staff position.
I found these tests rather humorous. Even though the tests were produced by several different companies and administered in many forms, they all asked similar questions. One particular question was almost always asked on each test: “If you were driving on the highway in a line of three cars, which car would you prefer to be, the first, middle, or last?”
What a silly question! But this, among several hundred other questions, gave the hiring companies an idea of what kind of person they were considering. I’ve always remembered this one because the correct answer was so obvious, depending on what type of position I was applying for. When I became a pastor, those personality tests surfaced once more. Essentially, the various denominations want to make sure that we are safe and that we pastors have a comfortable handle on who we are as God’s creation.
My entire career, I’ve always picked to be in the lead car. I want to be driving the first car, but not because I want to be in first place. Instead, I’m always fascinated by the unexplored, unbothered, and fresh opportunity. I want to at least get my eyes on it before other folks start rearranging things. “Early bird gets the worm” rings true for me: first boat on the water, first car on the road, first person at work, etc. You get the drift.
Contrary to some opinions, trying to be first is not a sin. In fact, in church, trying to be the first is extremely insightful. The Chapel was the first church to be established on the island, and for over thirty years, it was the only church. Every church that was established afterward had some part of its history rooted at the Chapel. A Roman Catholic came to the Chapel until they could start St. Mary Star of the Sea. A Hebrew came to the Chapel until they could begin Temple Beth Israel. You get the drift. It all has to start somewhere.
At the Chapel, we should always desire to be the best we can be. It’s not about first place for attendance or being the most popular in town. Instead, being first is about being the people that God calls us to be. We want to be the friendliest people we can be. We want to be the most joyful folks that God creates. We want to provide the best hospitality, the most effective ministry, and the most inspirational worship possible. We want to serve our Community in the best way possible and do our very best to care for the needs of each person. If we keep that desire in front of us, we’ll be where God needs us to be.
Now, if you happen to always be in the back of the line, or if you’re always last to supper and late to the party, that’s perfectly acceptable. Your job is to make sure everyone at the back of the line is happy, joyful, and welcome. Someone must have eyes and ears at the back to help those in front to keep from running away from everybody else!
Each of us is created perfectly in the image of the LORD. All of us have a place in the Church (Chapel) and each of us can serve with a glad and joyful heart. Right now, lots of great things are happening at the Chapel and your presence and assistance are needed, in the front and back!
See you this week, in person and online!
Brock.
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