Clergyfied or Not!

Thursday afternoon, October 9, 2008

This past Monday, I was in Clayton and found myself doing something I frequently do—eating! For those of you who know me, I know you will find that hard to believe; however, it is the truth and nothing but the truth.
Just for context, I will tell you that immediately prior to my eating, I had been washing the vinyl siding on our mountain cabin, and for some reason, I went to the cafe without changing clothes; in other words, I did not look very "clergyfied." Truth is, I looked more like the man who rides on the back of the garbage truck, after and 8 hour day in the summer heat, and I probably smelled accordingly. I might add this to my "statement of context": I went to the cafe to eat, not to do ministry; in fact, ministry was not even on my mind. As soon as I saw that Southern Fried Chicken was the special of the day, I completely forgot about everything but my mission purpose—to eat.
Have you ever noticed that the Holy Spirit often has plans for you, plans that for some strange reason He chooses to keep to Himself prior to your arriving in the middle of them? Any logical person would think that when He has something important for you to do, He would, at the very least, notify you ahead of time, so you could look "clergyfied" but trust me, for some reason, He is NOT always logical, or so it seems.
Have you also noticed, however, that when someone really needs to hear from Him, they aren't too concerned about how the messenger is dressed, or about the aroma that exudes from his earthsuit. Truth is they couldn't care less if he is a Wesleyan or a Calvinist or a Hindu or a Chickendu, for that matter. Once the messenger begins to speak the message of hope and life and freedom, the one who needs to hear from Him comes to attention like a private in Marine boot camp.
Innocently enough, the owner walked over to our table to speak and to be sure we were enjoying our meal. Just as innocently, I asked her if this was the first Sunday they had been open this fall, thinking that they did so during the leaf season, to accommodate hungry leaf-lookers (hardly any stores, even restaurants, are open on Sunday in that area). Immediately, she apologized for being open, telling us that their pastor and many of their friends were disappointed that they had chosen to do so, but she assured me that their "ox was in the ditch."
I really want to tell you what happened next but that is for Sunday's message. Suffice it to say that The Holy Spirit can do His work without giving me any notice whatsoever and regardless of whether I am wearing smelly clothes or the vestments of the clergy.
That really is good news for me because the older I become, the less inclined I am to look "clergyfied"!