Friday night was special for us...

It was senior night at the ECHS football game. The seniors in the fall sports and the marching band are recognized before the game individually along with their escorts (usually their parents). Carolyn is a senior this year and was recognized. In preparation for this each senior completed a survey about their family, past accomplishments and future plans. Included in the survey was a line for the names of their escorts. Barbara completed this line by writing “The Rev. and Mrs. George Pabst.” She assumed it would be read “The reverend and Mrs. George Pabst.” As Carolyn’s name was called and we walked towards the sideline the announcer says “escorted by The Rev and Mrs. George C. Pabst.” We laughed so hard that we failed to hear anything else said over the public address system.

I tell you this because I very rarely use the title Reverend. My name is George. It has been for as long as I can remember so, that’s who I am. When mail comes to the house and it is addressed Reverend George Pabst I immediately know they know not who I am. I guess titles bug me. I don’t know. The title thing has been a joke at our house for a long time. The Rev became a conversation spark for several people.

Several years ago while attending a choral festival at AASU I had the opportunity to speak numerous times with Kimberly Webster. As far as I knew she was Mom and wife of a career army officer. She told me of moving numerous times and how their family adjusts and adapts. It wasn’t until later that she told me of her husband’s rank Brigadier General. Her husband was Brigadier General William Webster commander of the 3^rd Infantry Division. I felt stupid. I asked how that worked with his authority at work and then at home. She told me when he comes home he takes out the trash. Kind of keeps you grounded. Titles don’t mean much in some places.

Title and labels are our conventions to define people and places in a unique way. They really should exist out of an experience or the nature of the individual or place so that the person is the title not the title making the person. Labels can do the same thing. Sacred and secular, Christian, believer, follower of Jesus are to indicate who the person is not to define them as a person. Often it gets turned around as an individual begins to believe their press releases more than the mirror.

In recent weeks I have studied Esther and Ruth. The most interesting idea that has surfaced from those two women and their God stories is how unreligious their stories are. No “and the Lord spoke” or “God caused” in those stories but rather two women living their lives in their very unique situations faithful to who they are and the God they worship and in the midst of living the providence of God was shaping not only their own story but the story of history as well. What seemed to be a secular setting became sacred by the providence of God’s hand. This has led me to conclude there is no secular for a child of God because God’s faithfulness is not dependent upon me but rather upon His character no title him. I AM that I AM.

That’s what this transformation called salvation is all about. Who I am in HIM!               

In HIS Service and Yours,

The Rev the preacher formerly known as BroG