The Rev. Benton Heisler reflects on the beauty of getting to know babies, a bishop and one’s neighbors.
REV. BENTON HEISLER
Director of Connectional Ministries, West Michigan
“If you make my Word your home, you will indeed be my disciples. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:13, New Jerusalem Bible.)
Each article I write for this column is based in the guidance of a particular Scripture passage. I trust these reflections and information will assist you in your own witness and service as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
This past weekend was the annual “family reunion.” My grandmother on my father’s side was one of five sisters who were all born in the late 1800’s. There were only five children born by three of these five women. One hundred plus years later there are now 63 living relatives in this extended family. Forty-three of us made it to the day long gathering in northern Indiana, just a few miles from that original homestead.
For Anna, Samuel, Russell, and Weston (10-20 months old), the fifth generation infants, it was their first “family reunion.” We all welcomed them accordingly, offering parenting tips, reminiscing about when their parents were that age. The covey of other younger children enveloped the toddlers with excitement, encouragement and you could see the extra attention led to a motivation for new exploration and learning. We marveled at their crawling and toddling progress and commented about the “family likeness” seen in each face.
We looked at old photos of reunions through the decades, including an aerial view black & white photo of the “family farm” taken in the early 1900’s and photos of other picnics on the expansive front yard under the towering cottonwood trees. The former centennial farm continues on, but now under the stewardship of an Amish family. Speedboats and tubing have taken the place of croquet on the lawn, yet the “old guys” still managed a game of hitting a ball across bumpy parched Indiana turf through wickets, steeped in strategy and heavy duty “rules of the game” interpretation. The smiles, giggles, snuggles and cries of these new additions clearly left a positive first impression on us all that the legacy of life and love begins again and will carry on for decades to come.
This week the Area Full Cabinet had an opportunity to make our first impression on Bishop David Bard and he on us. It was fascinating to listen to what each of us wanted to be sure we shared. To a person we noted something about our family. Clearly those relationships are imperative to understanding who we are and what is important to each of us. We each had seven minutes to reflect upon common guiding questions:
- People who know me most completely know that I….
- The days that are most fulfilling for me in this ministry are…
- The days I realize why I can only do this by God’s grace are…
- The two things I am most excited are in process are…
All of this caused me to reflect upon that verse from I Samuel 16:7 “People look upon the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart.” Indeed we only have one chance to make a first impression. That visual appearance, physical context, first words spoken and intuitive connection all provide our “first impression.” I believe this verse is reminding us that there is a balance between those human impressions and the spiritual depth of each of us which only God truly knows and understands.
In the coming months we will all have opportunities to meet Bishop David Bard and his wife Julie. We will each have our own “guiding questions” and our few moments to make a first impression and begin a new relationship for ministry together.
But perhaps even more importantly are those persons who are new in our communities or would be new in our faith communities. The impressions we make on them are vital to the continuing of their relationships with us and in our congregations. I pray that we all are like “the covey of young children enveloping the new arrivals with excitement, encouragement and the extra attention that leads to a motivation for new exploration in faith and learning about the grace and love of God found in Jesus Christ.”
Sometimes it may require that we simply sit quietly, with our most favorite toys in front of us, the companion of the Holy Spirit in the background, and with a wide smile invite a new face to be our friend.
Last Updated on December 15, 2023