Warning to Sunday speakers: This past Sunday, I had been scheduled to speak at the small international church in our city. Since it’s summer, most ex-pats have opted for locations that are cooler than the third ring of Hades. A few of us for a variety of reasons remained here (thus the many “tomato” comments/stories).
I began to speak on the miracles of Jesus when an older Egyptian man walked into the back of the church and sat down. He wasn’t a regular, but the room we were meeting in was air conditioned. I suspected he had come in for that rather than hearing me. I couldn’t blame him.
As I recounted the history of Caesar Augustus, I noticed that our visiting friend had fallen asleep. Well, I wouldn’t be the first speaker this happened to, but still…
Pulling myself back to the listening audience, I continued. As I was now in full-blown mesmerization of the audience (at least from my viewpoint), I noticed that the man in the back had shifted a bit. Not as “nap-like” but not awake.
I continued speaking, but in my mind I was thinking, “Oh my goodness! Has he died? Am I going to have to test my own sermon on miracles right here in the middle of it?”
Earlier I had noticed that the man wore a large cross around his neck that rested on his round belly and would go up and down with each breath. The cross was still rising and falling. (That sounds like a good future title. Write that down, Pam!)
I kept my surveillance of him throughout the rest of the talk while also trying to stay on point. (Any speaker will tell you that distractions are a common occurrence, however, making sure that all your audience members remain alive…well, that’s a different story.)
I wrapped up probably more quickly than normal (and all the listeners shouted “Hallelujah!”) and saw one of our congregants who also happened to be a doctor check on our friend.
Our friend wouldn’t wake up. He breathed normally, but had fallen unconscious. We all began to pray as the doctor whisked the man to the medical clinic on the compound. Someone ran to get orange juice.
I found out later that this man had several medical issues, but had come in to find a safe, cool place to rest from the brutal heat.
Isn’t that the story of all of us? We all have issues, ailments, baggage that allow us to keep breathing, but not be fully conscious to the amazing life that God has for us. Finding a safe, cool place to rest and get relief from the heat of circumstances should be what the Church does best.
That dear, quiet man preached a far better sermon than I did that day. May we provide in word and deed a cool place of refreshing for the people we meet. We have no idea the burden they bear.
(P.S. Our friend is doing well.)
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