Her Bright Eyes and Bold Confidence

Recalling the exact words exchanged is not something I can do, but I will not forget the substance and feeling of the conversation I had on Sunday. It was after the 8:40 service. A seven-year-old girl and her father walked up to me. The father said, "My daughter would like to speak with you."
 
Talking with children is one of my favorite things, so I sat down on the steps in front of the stage where we were standing, putting me at eye level with this charming individual. She said with bright eyes and bold confidence, "Want to be a pastor when I grow up." Recognizing this would be a good conversation, I asked, "Why do you want to be a pastor?" She replied, "So I can tell other people about God's love." We discussed this and several other subjects, like her two little brothers. Seeing that our short conversation was concluding, I returned to her original words and said something like, "Keep seeking God; we need more good preachers and pastors." She will make a fine pastor one day, and the church needs more ministers like her, who are intent on sharing the truth of His word and the wonders of His love.

Having that joy-filled conversation with a seven-year-old inspires me at a hard-to-describe level. Her eyes' brightness and understanding of God's love oblige me to see tomorrow. God always calls us to touch tomorrow.

I find myself wondering if she will be like the prophetess Anna, speaking the truth concerning "the New" God was doing in sending His Son at long last (Luke 2:36-38), or maybe a leader like Debra of old saving her nation (Judges 4-5), or perhaps phoebe the deacon who God likely used to give us the apostles Paul's seminal work called "Romans" (Romans 16:1-2).  

As we move into the New Year, I am excited about our January series called "New," I pray that each of us who call Jesus Lord, the Bible God's Word, and Snyder home will get our heads up and our eyes looking forward. In this series, we will deal with things like When the "New" God wants to do seems impossible, How to respond when the "New" God is calling you to is not what you want, and the significance of looking forward.

The future is as bright as that little girl's eyes because His word and love are true, and "He holds the future."

Looking forward (indeed),
Blake