2025 January news-letter article

Greetings dear friends!

I write to you on Tuesday, December 24 (fear not, the Eve hasn’t begun yet), and I just got my shopping complete.  I have been behind the curve for over a week now.  After a busy working weekend, I took a lazy Monday off, only to wake up with a 103°F fever on Tuesday.  After taking what felt like half a bottle of Tylenol, I felt a bit better on Wednesday, but after the encouragement of everyone in our staff meeting, I stayed home instead of attending Treat Night.  I was so guilty missing out on our children’s program, but that night is when my throat began to burn, and I discovered white nodules on my tonsils.  Thursday, I was diagnosed with streptococcus and began taking an anti-biotic.  The doctor told me that I should be non-contagious by Saturday morning, and that I may be able to sing by this week, to which I thought “well, we’ll see about that”.

I say all these things not to engender pity or sympathy, because there are many who have had health issues much more critical than mine of late.  I say these things, because I want to high-light several people that have very intentionally gone out of their way to make my life easier, just so that I can have a little less stress and a little more time to rest and recuperate.  Pastor Pat told me in staff meeting on December 18 that he would go ahead and prepare a sermon so that I didn’t have to preach.  Tuesday, Rodney Ashburn and crew relieved me of any Treat assembly responsibility.  Wednesday, Braydon and Pat released me of any responsibility as Treat Night was executed.  Saturday, Braydon handled re-assembling the Choir Loft so that I didn’t have to.  Sunday afternoon, Lisa Ore owned serving hot cider to the Choir after our rehearsal.  Monday, Pastor Pat, Mark Moore, Lee Smith, and Ronald Watts handled delivering the lion’s share of our left-over Treats to our elderly shut-in members.  Each and every one of these people went out of their way to do something, simply so that I didn’t have to do it.

It is an incredibly humbling thing to be laid up physically.  I don’t get very sick, very often, but from time to time it is as if God sits me down in order to get my attention.  Many of you know that I am a bit of a control freak, and I say it’s a humbling experience because for God to so acutely remind me that I am a weak, frail creature goes hand in hand with a reminder that is an all-sovereign Creator, and that He doesn’t need me to be in control (of my health, or anything else).

I am further humbled, and filled with gratitude for all these folks who actively removed responsibilities from my “plate”.  Yes, I know our Deacons enjoy visiting with our shut-ins; yes, I know that Pat loves to preach; yes, I know that people enjoy assembling Treat bags, but many of these people very intentionally did these things simply to be a blessing to me.  I am so thankful to these folks, and all those who have been praying for my stress and my body.  Finally, I am encouraged and reminded that we have such smart, capable people who can do anything.  Pastor Jim used to teach me about the “hit by a bus” preparation; he would always remind me that [God forbid] something tragic happened to him, save preaching and teaching, everything in our church would continue to function perfectly.  God continues to convict this control freak that it would take a rather poor leader to make more things dependent upon him, when he ought to just let people do what God has gifted them to do.  In other words, First Baptist Church doesn’t need me; she needs God, and she has gifted leaders who can manage things just fine when I am sick.  This is an encouraging thing to me, and a liberating thing.  Through this, God has reminded me to devote myself to the things only I can do; in so doing, I’ll be an even stronger leader, and our church will be even healthier!  Well, it’s time for my next pill.  Aren’t we thankful for God’s lessons, even when we’re lying in a sick bed?

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light;
take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
--A.J.