Don

I have a customer named Don who stopped by the store to pick up a few supplies the other day. Whenever he comes in it's a little like a scene from "Cheers." He has purchased two spas from us over the years, and we had to use a crane to install one of them. Things like that tend to make a customer memorable, but Don and I have struck up a bit of a friendship over the years on top of things. He will usually set his purchases on the counter and then pull up the stool we keep handy (just for this purpose) and we'll have a chat. Lots of laughter, and sometimes deep things get shared too. But the other day was unique. Don seemed to have something to say.

All throughout the years, Don has been open about the fact that Jesus Christ died to forgive his sins. That's almost exactly how he puts it, and I know it will come up to some extent during our conversation. I always agree, and if we delve into that topic it usually comes couched in a discussion of the different types of churches he grew up in, and how many similarities there are between Lutheran and Episcopalian churches, why Don will gladly refer to them as “pastor, reverend, padre, etc.” but he doesn't like to call the priests 'Father.' And things like that.

This has always been of interest to me, having a Bible College education, and being an observer of various types and denominations of churches. But I never understood what was driving this over and over as the years slipped past. I just assumed it was a point of contact, something we shared in common. That is - until this past visit.

After all the usual pleasantries, and a few smiles and giggles from Don's young daughter (who was only just added to their family as we delivered their second tub years ago and who is just adrable) Don sent her out to the car with their purchases, and then took his seat. To make a long story short, Don mentioned the fact that I had told him, close to ten years ago, that I had been a Pastor but was not any longer.

I have always sought to encourage Don in his faith, and strengthen the bonds of family and even encourage him toward more of a relationship with Jesus and less of a relationship with the church, but apparently I had failed. Because Don, all the time, had a burden for MY relationship with Jesus. When it finally hit me what was behind all of these conversations over all of these years, I had to stop and smile. I looked Don in the eye and told him - “Don, when I told you I had left the ministry, I should have told you that I did not do so because I lost my faith. Quite the opposite – I surrendered my credentials so I could better serve in our local church, which I have done from that day to this.”

The sigh that escaped from him told me all I needed to know. All this time, Don had been trying to tell me about Jesus, and get me back into a relationship with Him. Don was concerned for my eternal soul, and had been trying to help me back to faith! And I was so busy trying to do the same for him, that we had missed like two ships in the night. I was blessed, and smiled for hours about it.

Thanks Don, and thank-you Father God, for people like Don.