A Quick Trip

 Last weekend, we made a quick trip to Lubbock, Texas for a wedding of one of our great nephews on Pat’s side of the family.  We went down on Saturday, had the wedding Sunday afternoon, and came back Monday, Labor Day.  The ceremony and after party came off without a hitch, at least as far as I know, being only an observer and a member of the male gender.

However, while we were in that neck of the woods, we decided to meet up with a young couple that our church was interested in helping financially.  Jace and Aria (not their real names) are wanting to do mission work in Japan, if at all possible.  They would be working with an established group of missionaries already on the ground.

There have been issues, however, with Japan being closed to foreign travel due to COVID.  The shut-down looks to be a long time thing, so Jace and Aria are looking at other possibilities here in the states.

The couple is young, in their very early 20’s, newly married, fresh out of seminary schooling, and I am guessing barely making ends meet financially.  He is from Wisconsin and she from Western Colorado.  They haven’t known each other all that long and have been married even less.  They have, to say the least, a rather long row to hoe in the next few years just in solidifying their marriage, their finances, their vocational endeavors, and all of the other things that go with the making of a new family.  The Japanese roadblock to their mission plans may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, because this may give them time to re-think their future and also time to cement their relationship with one-another as well as with the in-law families.  It will also give them time to re-think their plans and develop their service and missionary skills in the USA where the culture shock won’t be as significant as a stint in Japan.

We attended the church where Jace gave the lesson in the adult Bible class, then preached probably one of his first sermons to a congregation outside of school.  We took them to lunch and had a great conversation with them in the span of about 2 hours in a booth at the Chili’s on University Avenue.

They told us that the church where Aria was from was looking for a minister, and that they had applied there.  We talked about some of the positives as well as the negatives of working in ministry in a place where one had grown up.  We talked about some of the pitfalls of interviewing with a committee of church members who may or may not have experience in human resources or have an understanding of the role of the minister.  We talked about several other topics related to ministry, congregational relationships, and the family life of a minister.

We parted with a fondness and attachment for one-another.  We hope to keep the communication alive and be able to work in some way with them once they have a better idea of where God is leading them.

So, why am I telling you, my Thursday Thought audience all of this?  What we did this past weekend can serve as a few reminders for us all.

First, young people still have weddings.  Oh, I know it isn’t as much of a deal as it used to be.  So many are setting up housekeeping without the legalities of a marriage nowadays, including my great nephew and his now spouse.  But there are still young people in this world who long for the security and stability of a marriage, and even go to some expense to put on a wedding complete with the traditions that have been part of weddings for decades, if not centuries.

Second, young people still have a desire to serve and make the world a better place.  Jace and Aria are two such youngsters.  Even though they are very new to the world of adulthood, they have a desire to make a difference.  And that’s a noble and honorable thing.

Third, and this has nothing to do with either of the first two, if you travel through King County in Northwest Texas, you need to stop at Guthrie and visit the general store.  Some of you may know that King County is one of the least populated counties, having a population of about 230 people.  The county seat, Guthrie, is an unincorporated place…a wide spot in the road.

The King Ranch, famous in Texas lore even until today, spreads out over 350,000 acres of King County scrub brush, decent pasture, and some interesting geology.

If you need to use the restroom, and they are few and far between in that part of the country, the general store has a public restroom, but it’s “out back,” and you need to get a key to access it…available inside.  While you’re inside, you can peruse the western wear, the boots, the groceries, the cold drinks in the cooler, and other things that are for sale.  Go ahead…buy a souvenir, some snacks, or maybe a Coke in a small bottle (use the bottle opener hanging on the side of a table).  The ladies there will appreciate it, and you’ll go away with a smile, content to know that there are still some common sense, down to earth places in the world…and Guthrie, King County Texas at the general store is one such place.

 

Blessings,