The Crosswalk

Since my arrival at League City United Methodist Church and actually for many months before as the pastor in Bay City I considered entering the world of blogging.  I am filled with questions and ideas and thoughts, some profound, some quite mundane, some filled with deep spiritual content and others that are just plain comical.  In addition to all of these my life is blessed to be overflowing with encounters with God through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.  Through these moments God has connected my heart to His heart and I have been left forever transformed!

As I pondered the title and direction of these blogs an important moment occurred.  Carl came by needing some assistance.  He was on the way to Friendswood United Methodist Church for some food and then headed to Galveston for a job interview.  I joyfully agreed to help and began to work my way across the street in the rain to the gas station on the other side of the road.  I was skipping across the crosswalk (a particular joy of mine) as I became aware that someone was watching me as I crossed the street.  Come on, doesn't everybody skip across the street in the rain?  I just smiled at the driver waiting at the red light and went on to the other corner.  As I filled Carl's gas tank, he told me where he was going for the job interview.  I thanked him because the information would also help someone who came by the church just days before seeking employment and according to Carl there was plenty of work to go around.

As I returned to my office and got a hold of the other fellow I reflected on this encounter and how typical and still amazing it is in my life.  By opening myself up and embracing an opportunity to serve another fellow human being I ended up being blessed with a wonderfully God-filled experience.  Out of my little act of obedience, God had helped at least three people, Carl, me, and the other welder.  All it took was a willing heart and a few skips!

The crosswalk from our church to the gas staion across the road is a powerful symbol of my joy-filled mission-minded ministry.  It's many characteristics embody one of my deepest feelings about the church that all too often we have remained cloistered in our walls, focusing the great majority of our efforts and programs and resources on ourselves (even with best intents to add depth in our relationship with God) and that now, more than ever, it is time that we move out into our communities in service and love and hope.  What this world needs is a Church willing to bring the hope of Christ into the most desperate situations and offer more.  More love, more value, more resources, more God focused outward!

The cross walk is also a description of the path which God has called this humble pastor to walk and to lead his family and everyone with whom he comes into contact.  It is a path that follows the steps of Christ, it is a path which calls us to offer everything we are and have, it is a path which leads to abundant life and to stronger relationships.  As I begin my blog journey, God has led me to place it within the boundaries of my cross walk so that maybe everyone who reads these words might set out or find encouragement for their own cross walk.  I invite you along!  It's going to be a wild ride!