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by David Anderson

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Unexpected Messenger

October 6, 2013 by David Anderson 7 Comments

Often God uses someone—or something—as an unexpected messenger.

On Wednesday morning I came into the office and started working—fast. Sunday we had forty stewardship visitors coming to pick up their packets and . . . the “packet” was mostly a figment. I walked into my assistant’s office and started ticking off the critical components we needed to put in place today. I was rushed because I was scheduled to lead the Healing Eucharist at 9:30. In other words, I had to get Judy working on some key projects before I left for an entire hour!

Cindy, our Admin Support Coordinator, was sitting in Judy’s office when I barreled in like a linebacker. She listened to my caffeinated ramble about all the things we had to get rolling in the next ten minutes and then, as I was running out the door toward the Chapel, Cindy stopped me. “Wait a minute,” she said, holding out her hand to block my hurried exit. I was a little surprised.

“Stop for a minute,” Cindy said. “Aren’t you going to do the healing service?”

“What?” I said.

“Stop for a minute. Take a breath.”

She was serious.

The breath I tried to take was a like a shallow hiccup. Pathetic. I tried again. This time some actual oxygen reached my lungs. On the third try I got a deep draught that filled my chest. I let it out, relaxed my upper body, pulled back my shoulders then took another deep breath. Cindy watched me like a coach. She smiled.

“That feels better,” I said. As I left the office, I patted her shoulder with a silent thank-you.

Pulling on my robe in preparation for the liturgy, I had to laugh. I never expected Cindy to call me out of my frenetic busyness and into a place of sanity so that I might possibly bring a spirit of calm and blessing to those who would kneel at the altar in a moment and ask me to pray for their healing.

God’s messengers often surprise us. Hold that in mind as you go about your work today.

(Thank you, Cindy.)

 

Filed Under: Awareness, Listening, Now/ the Present

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Art says

    October 6, 2013 at 6:41 pm

    I need a Cindy squad.

    Reply
    • David Anderson says

      October 6, 2013 at 7:28 pm

      Yeah–I know! Don’t we all.

      Reply
  2. Michael says

    October 7, 2013 at 10:04 am

    David, it says a lot about Cindy, and you, too, that she felt comfortable giving you that real-time feedback. What a great working relationship. Very cool.

    Reply
  3. clark johnson says

    October 7, 2013 at 12:37 pm

    We are so grateful to all of the clergy and staff of St Luke’s Can’t even begin to experess how much it means to us, but this is a start! Blessings to all clark

    Reply
  4. Ginny Lovas says

    October 7, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    Always a good idea to have a Preacher’s kid on the staff! Ginny

    Reply
    • David Anderson says

      October 8, 2013 at 7:22 am

      Yes, she knows this life and work–when we do it well and when we are just entirely too, too human.

      Reply
  5. Kathy says

    October 8, 2013 at 11:30 am

    Yes, what a gift Cindy is. Puts me in mind of the Mary and Martha story. How easy it is to do good things but do them in a state of frenzy. Jesus never appeared to be in a rush or frantic, and yet that is where I live too much of the time. Cindy needs to clone herself, because we all need that hand on our shoulder reminding us to slow down and take a deep breath. Maybe I *will* have that second cup of coffee…

    Reply

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