A Moment In Time – A Faithful Response
During my years of pastoral ministry, I made a practice of regular visits to church members. On one occasion, as I strolled up the sidewalk, the husband bounded out of the door and shouted, “If you take one more step I’ll knock you to the ground!” I paused, and as he approached still shouting and cursing, his wife cried out, “John, this is our pastor. Please don’t hit him!”
Standing firm I said in a calm tone, “John, I see that you are very upset. Let’s go inside. I want to hear your story.” Rather than take a defensive posture, I simply opened my arms as if to embrace him and repeated my desire to listen.
After a few tense moments, we entered his home. He told me his story as a Vietnam vet, suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Apparently, I had stirred his wrath the previous Sunday when I referenced the peace position of the COB at the beginning of the first Iraq invasion. After an hour of conversation we embraced in tears, brothers in Christ. He asked for forgiveness for his outburst and was forgiven.
I tell this story as a vivid way to illustrate the importance of lifelong learning rooted in faith, continually nurtured by the living streams of God’s grace, grounded in the faith, ministry, example, and teachings of Christ. In the words of Paul, “leading lives worthy of the Lord…bearing fruit in every good work…” (
Col. 1:10)
I give thanks to my family and faith community for instilling within me the important values of Christian living as seen through the eyes of our Anabaptist/Pietist heritage. I am forever thankful for those who planted seeds of hope, love, trust, joy, and forgiveness…rooted in the soil of the saving grace of God. Through sensitive mentoring, Sunday school teachers, caring pastors, coupled with rigorous study and reflection in college and seminary, a witness for peaceful and reconciling response was instilled within me as another way of walking and living in the light of the Good News.
The text from Jeremiah makes a sharp distinction between those whose lives are grounded and rooted in their own strength, resources, and power in contrast to those whose lives are rooted and nurtured in a loving relationship and devotion to God.
One never knows when adversity will strike or when someone wishes to “knock you to the ground.” When faced with hardships, spiritual resources are available to sustain, guide, encourage, and comfort.
May we be thankful for the resources of SVMC for ministry education, professional growth, and profound enriching lifelong learning experiences that are faithful to our calling, instructing the wise, teaching the righteous, trusting in the Lord, like a tree planted by the water…does not cease to bear fruit. (
Jer. 17:8)
Joe Detrick is a retired minister, district executive, and national staff, and current chair of the Resource and Development Committee of the SVMC Governing Board.
