Matthew 8:26 – And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. (KJV)

Often's the time when attending a celebration of life for the spouse or relative of a friend that the title of today's devotional has come to mind. It is also the title of a book about President John Fitzgerald Kennedy from the non-political perspective of two of his closest friends and advisors, David Powers and Kenneth O'Donnell.

Such was the case earlier this year when I was attending the service for the husband of a dear friend of mine. She and I met years ago through a group with whom we volunteered, and so it was she with whom I was most familiar, and I ran into her husband only now and then.

My friend, being older than I, was the voice of wonderful advice on being a mother-in-law and grandmother, long before I was one.

Her husband, on the other hand, had quite the sense of humour, which sometimes caused me to be taken aback, because he was a minister — a Presbyterian minister, mind you — and well, you know those fellows, those ones from our childhood: not only would we not call them by their first name, but more often than not, they were also a staunch no nonsense bunch. But Rev. Dave was different. Today would have been his 87th birthday.

Today's Scripture is something that he quoted one of the first times that I met him. A group of us were waiting on the waterfront until all members arrived for our scheduled walk. As it was a tad overcast, some of us had umbrellas — not open, mind you, but we had them. As he and his wife approached, his comment was, "Umbrellas? O ye of little faith!" And with what I came to know as his trademark twinkle in his eyes, off he went, for he was not part of the group, and had only accompanied her to join us. I wasn't quite sure how to take him.

And so it was with every encounter, by phone or in person, both of us being of Scottish heritage. He, of the twinkle in his eye, always had a quip for me, but to say that I knew him, I did not. It was only this one, small side of him that I knew, and not very well.

Until, that is, the day 'twas time to celebrate his life — and oh, what a celebration it was! Throngs of people came from the different communities that he'd preached at when filling in for ministers who were taking a much-needed break. There were bagpipes, and stories from his early years, family life, and as a preacher. Perhaps the most enlightening one was the story that his wife hadn't known that she was marrying a preacher. How could she not? Well, that was because he'd been a businessman and felt the call so strongly that he'd entered into theology as a married man, and thus enriched the lives of many, many who were blessed to have been part of his congregation.

Unfortunately, I was not. And to that I say, yes, Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the lives of those who hear Your call and dedicate their lives to Your service. May some, even some who are now reading this, hear that same call. Through Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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