Three Preachers
So far, there are three of these guys I’ve met. Two associated with the Lutheran Faith, different synods, but similar branding, in my mind. But very different.
Three Preachers
Had an aging auntie here in San Antonio. We’d go on formal holidays, and other times, too, but mostly Xmas Eve, Easter. I would casually dress nice for her church, nominally winter so a sport coat over a shirt with a collar, best I could do, but it was the right thing. With my long curls cascading down my back, and me in boots, that would put me over six-foot. Could say I stood out in that congregation of mostly elderly.
Filing out of the church, after the services, I recall the preacher, never knew his name, but I could see his skin crawl when he had to shake my hand. I don’t think he liked me as a person. The aging auntie loved me because I was good to her niece, and more important, I was available to take that auntie places like her doctors’ offices. We even used the same GP until he retired.
In her church, unbeknownst to me, communion was by appointment only. So when she would wobble up to get the cracker and the shot of grape juice, I’d go. Way I was raised, radical protestant, I just got used to everyone being welcome.
What I learned later from that auntie, I wasn’t supposed to partake of the host, communion, unless I was member of that church, or I needed a permission slip from my pastor. Swear fealty to that one — I don’t know. Not what I was raised with, can’t say.
When she passed, and I mailed in a check as a donation in her name, I had fun, as I could see that pastor not wanting to accept the money from me.
Even at her memorial, I could see his tight smile, not happy to see me, but feigning that Xtian Love ™.
Every time, seems like his skin crawled as I didn’t understand the precepts of his faith.
Maybe I’m a godless heathen? Certainly been called that before.
Three Preachers
At the old San Antonio Zen Center, I ran into another pastor. Can’t recall his name, he showed up one time with his collar on, and I asked, he was a Lutheran pastor, then assigned to hospital duty.
“Mostly last rites.”
I asked him about gay marriage, and general graces.
“I’ll marry anyone who wants to be married. Same for last rites, communion, or confession, whatever it is.”
Gay marriage was kind of a quick litmus. Besides, I met this guy at the zen center, and after the briefest of interaction, I mean, besides sitting in meditation with him, the littlest exchange bolstered my belief that some guys in collars are really good. Unlike the one who reacted so badly to me. Rick? Russ? Mike? I don’t recall. Just a powerful impact as to being a good person.
He agreed that communion — or any other religious service — should be open to all. It was what he practiced. In part? It was his day job.
Accept gracefully, no attachment.
Three Preachers
There’s an older tale, when I was passing through Dallas while my mother was having (major) surgery. Her pastor, a remarkable theologian, rebel folk rocker, and Virgo, sat with me during my mother’s surgery, then waited until she was wheeled into the after-surgery thing, room, place. Waited until she was conscious.
That pastor shared a long, thoughtful conversation, surgery itself only took half an hour, but the prep, and post, that was a few hours. Topics ranged from the mundane to the profound, and he timed it well, clearly a staggering intellect, thoughtful theologian, and an artist.
That visit, and him sitting with me, it wasn’t until some days or even weeks later that I learned that he wasn’t there for my mother — people of a certain age, coming out of deep anesthesia — can be disoriented and combative.
The pastor was there for the family, not the patient.
Not my pastor, but the church I was raised in, so there is that.
Sometime in the recent memory, there’s a picture of that pastor, in his robe of office, and rainbow-colored scarf, being led off in handcuffs from a peaceful act of civil disobedience. Again, what I recall, peaceful, moral, and practicing his faith, out loud in a quiet way.
Stand firm. Be kind.
Three Preachers
There’s a sign by the exit of our church, simple message.
“Seek God; serve others.”
Two of the three obviously carried that faith with them, and in its examples, demonstrate the true values.
At least that’s how it appears to me.
Stand firm. Be kind. Accept gracefully, no attachment.
