The church family

 A few weeks ago, a member of a sister church was complaining to me how things were not going well at church. The person felt left out. I told the member to focus on what the church as a whole was accomplishing — great things.
   When I was 4-and-a-half years old, a big snow came to my home in New Mexico. My three older brothers and I went out to play. We had to bundle up and for a 4-and-a-half-year-old, that was work. I was excited. We all went out on the four-acre plot my father had built our house on and began to play. I was following them and didn’t realize we were running through a drift. I got stuck with snow up to my elbows and I wasn’t moving any more. I panicked, crying for help, then just crying. They were having too much fun to hear. I thought I was a goner. My brothers, who were supposed to care for me, had reverted to being like the juvenile delinquents down the rock road in front of our house. Traitors, pretentious and uncaring.
   This memory returned to me recently when I called a friend about a donation the organization I am the treasurer of had collected, invested, and was to present to benevolences this summer. The most we had ever collected! I counted every dollar, took it to the bank, handled the account and was accountable and excited about all the volunteer work I had done…only to hear the presentation had already been made. They forgot me.
   At first I was angry, hurt, disappointed…stuck in the snow again and my brothers had once again left me behind.
   Then I thought about that church member. Now I remember how he felt. We can’t stop it. Nobody does it on purpose. But we are disappointed with church, family, work, friends, and God. It’s not time to give up the journey. Look at what we have accomplished!
   Back in the snow! While I was crying, my brothers had built a snowman. Finally quiet enough to hear me, all three came running to my rescue, carried me on their shoulders, and allowed me to put the hat on the snowman. It’s all recorded on my dad’s movie camera – I still have it! It’s time for me to take it out and remember what we have done together.

Pastor at St. Andrew Cumberland Presbyterian Church