Until He Comes...Or As Long As We Can
Mom said, "Son, You can't keep on doing what you are doing," she softly chided.
What a word from a mother of 9 children, pastor's wife for so many years, a cook for 50 people in an orphanage, and a few other things, too. When did she slow down? When did she stop? Is she not the same mom that would talk to children while cleaning, cooking or washing, yet in a few minutes have on her Sunday dress and a car full of kids headed for church? Is she not the person who used to invite church members to the parsonage after Sunday night service and prepare food for a small army?
Is she not the person who at 87 calls some of the seven children to remind them that one of their siblings is having a birthday? And she is still the person more likely to know what is going on with church headquarters politics than I am!
"Mom," I carefully responded, "I know that what you are saying is true. However, we will do what we can do while we can do. One day we will have to slow down. One day we will rest. But not now. Now we can. Just like you and dad we will do what we can while we can!"
"I know," she said. I like to think it was with a note of nostalgia. A little wistfulness of past days seemed to whisper through the "I know", but there was no sadness. She has lived fully. At 87 she drives herself to church and has a list of persons to call and check on and encourage.
While we can. Laila and I left Sunday worship and drove directly to Washington, D.C. Twenty more minutes and we would possibly have missed our flight. We had ten minutes to eat a sandwich before boarding the plane.
In Toronto, Canada we discovered my major luggage had been left behind. I am wearing what I wore yesterday. No shaving kit. Used salt to brush my teeth with my forefinger.
We arrived late in Regina, Canada…almost midnight. Then we had 70 miles to travel to Moose Jaw. To bed about 1:30 AM…20 ½ hours after getting up. Should have rested on the flight except a man just across the aisle took it upon himself to talk non-stop for 3 hours---and he was loud enough to be heard several rows in every direction!
Accommodations are very nice here at the International Bible College. I slept until 7 AM. Ate a quick breakfast and began class at 8 AM. Spoke in chapel and will speak in chapel again tomorrow.
Students here are ambitious for ministry. They like talking with a pastor…which I like. Laila is doing the gifts class.
Cold? Only 10 below zero. Tomorrow is supposed to have about 40 MPH winds with snow. A real blizzard for here. School goes on. Buses run. Roads are ice. Please just drive carefully.
We complete Friday PM and fly home Saturday. Our hope is to share experiences of ministry in Covenant and Charlottesville in a manner to bless young men and women going into ministry. The initiative of sending instructors/professors from Virginia is funded by the Church of God in Virginia, under the leadership of Dr. Mike Baker, Administrative Bishop.
We rejoice to be part of the team. Thank you for your prayers. We happily do what we can while we can.
Pastor Bare
Jeremiah 29:11