From the Pastor’s Heart

As many of you know, I am a second career pastor. Prior to experiencing the call to ministry I worked for ten years at the Carbon Limestone Plant where my father, brother and many of my uncles worked.

During that tenure I found myself needing additional employment because of lay offs or the company went on strike. I found employment at a small convenience store and I also cleaned a doctor’s office.

One of the worst jobs, in my opinion, was working retail. One Christmas season when the limestone plant was on strike I found work at a Straus’ Department store downtown Youngstown, Ohio. Christmas, a time of joy and good cheer, except for many exasperated shoppers. I encountered some awfully rude people during that holiday season.

Browsing customers would come and go. I would politely ask, “May I help you?’ And often the response was, “I am just looking.”

Just looking! What it mostly means is; “Go away, I have no intention of buying anything here.” No intent on buying, just messing up the shirts and sweaters I just straightened up minutes before for the one-hundredth time.

We have all done it, gone into a store…just looking. We touch and pick up the clothing with no intentions of buying. Sometimes we go ‘just looking’ because we are bored. We cruise the malls looking in one shop after another. Sometimes we go ‘just looking’ to sneak a peak at all those things that are out of our reach. Have you ever pretended to be studying photos of yachts for sale down at the marina? Have you ever walked through the showroom of a Porsche dealership, checking out the latest models you won’t be buying? Or maybe you prefer trying on a few diamonds and rubies, just to see how they look on your finger? Sorry, Just looking!

Some people spend their entire lives, ‘just looking’. It is difficult for some to invest their energies, emotions or economic security in anything because of the risks involved. People who are ‘just looking’ drift in and out of jobs without ever finding a vocation, they drift in and out of relationships without ever daring to love and they drift in and out of the church without ever opening their hearts to the Spirit of God or feeling the pulse of Christ’s body.

This past Sunday, little three-year-old Delaney Bollman touched my heart. She and her sister Sarah and their parents, Tonya and Joe were greeters. Delaney was taking her job quite seriously when she proudly and intentionally stuck her hand out to greet me. As I shook her hand she looked at me and said, “Hey, you’re not God!” I assured her that she was correct. Her father Joe explained, “Delaney has been looking for God ever since she and her sister were downstairs in the church and Delaney was afraid and Sarah reassured her that she need not be afraid because God was there.” Sarah is such a wise older sister! Joe said, “Ever since that incident, Delaney has been looking for God in the church.”

Delaney is quite serious in her quest. I know as she grows and matures she is going to find God in amazing ways because God has found Delaney as God finds each of us.

Delaney’s search made me pause and give thought to all who pass through the church doors. I wonder how many are on a sincere quest to find God or how many are just browsing? I wonder when they do find God and God offers an opportunity to be a disciple will they think the cost is too great and say, “No, thanks, just looking!”

As we enter this new season in the life of the church it is a wonderful opportunity for each of us to renew our commitment to find God in new and amazing ways. It is a great time to commit to the morning or evening Bible Study, to be an active student in Christian education, commit to weekly worship, serve on a committee, and become a member of the ministry of music program. The church provides a variety of opportunities to discover God or are we just browsing?

Blessings,

Pastor Russel