The heavy loss of a quiet church member

Is it because snowflakes are so quiet that we forget the absolute masterpiece that they are?

When the first flakes float from heaven, we are reminded of easier times of childhood, of playing in piles of fresh snow with family and friends, of Christmas time and hot chocolate.

Then, on the second snowfall, the grumbling is unleashed. It’s cold. I have to scrape the car, shovel the walks. It gets slick out there.

But…

If you would just sit with the snow for a moment and allow that flake to softly land on your coat sleeve, and you peered down onto it, you’d be reminded that every snowflake has architecture that rivals the greatest creations of humans. And each flake is unique. Millions, billions, of intricate and beautiful flakes quietly falling, so beautiful and yet so easy to ignore.

Beautiful people

I recently was informed of the passing of a dear friend and sister in Christ.

I remember well the first time I met her. I had been trying to meet her at home, but something always got in the way. Eventually she wound up in the hospital, and she could no longer escape me. We spoke at length about the beauty of God’s creation, the Church, and about prayer.

When we were one on one, she would end up being someone I would have a hard time having small talk with. She wasn’t interested in traditional small talk. She wanted to talk about Jesus.

From the first time that we met, I felt like she knew me. And in some ways, I imagine that she did. She had no relatives she spoke to besides her church family. She had a couple good friends she’d call or write, but she didn’t get out much. So what did she do with all her time? She said she prayed. For hours. She said that Jesus was her favorite person to be with, and that had been true for much of her adult life. And so, in prayer, maybe she was able to develop a picture of me that I never could.

I often wonder, how many sicknesses and close calls have I overcome because of the prayers of sweet ladies like her? How many people, without knowing her name, were lifted up in prayer by her and were blessed by her faithfulness?

If someone has a direct line to an unseen world that has influence to change outcomes and events, I feel people like her are the movers.

She was not wealthy. She did not have a ton of relationships. She was not well-known among the “new crowd” coming into church. And yet all benefitted from her spiritual strength.

Look for the quiet people

We need a lot more celebration in church and in life in general. Celebrate the gifts of the people around you.

We need to celebrate the pastors, and the worship leads, and the teachers, and the greeters, and the leaders. But these people, with prominent roles and speaking positions often stand out in our mind already.

I challenge you to find the quiet people.

Find those who have a fortified prayer life. Who barely say a word in public and yet go to war for you in private, praying for you and the body of Christ.

Find those who meditate and contemplate. Who don’t just read the Bible but chew on it.

Find those who are not saying what they will do, but are doing while no one even notices.

And lastly, be reminded my friends, that people are beautiful.

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