Vol 6 No 12 - Tale a Look Around

Over the past three days, I have been on retreat with all the appointed clergy within the Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church.  There were over 340 of us registered for this event, gathered at our conference center in Woodworth.

Being a good Methodist, my associates and I would arrive at the sessions early enough to find seating near the back. [Insert punchline here.]  It was a great place to sit, for we got to greet many of our colleagues who came in after us, and had a nice perspective on all those gathered for these three special days.

Tuesday morning, looking around the room at the many faces that are the United Methodist Clergy of our state, a few thoughts came to mind:

1) How many of these people would I voluntarily hang out with if we did not have the connection of being United Methodist Clergy?

2) How many of these people would I choose to be a pastor of a local congregation or a denominational executive?

3) How much would I be missing if these people were not a part of my life - those that I know extremely well, as well as those with whom I am merely acquainted through small talk in a hallway or an occasional meeting?

See, this is one of the most joyful things about the church - through Divine wisdom, God assembles the most unlikely to do Kingdom work.  People who seemingly do not have much in common, people who seeming have personality conflicts that would in other circumstances lead to deep division, people from all sorts of places, people of all demographic categories - through God's grace the Kingdom's work is done.

Walking into the office this morning, I reflected upon the fact that the same hold true for our local congregation.  When we gather as a church for worship, or fellowship, or mission, or for any other purpose, we are associating with some of the most unlikely people to do the most unlikely of work.

As you come to worship this Sunday, take a look around.  Take a look around and realize that this is God's grace in the flesh.  Take a look around, and give thanks to God for the richness that has been added to our lives by the common calling of uncommon people - the calling to participate in the Kingdom of God.

See You Sunday!

Lamar