Last week, I did something for only the second time in the previous decade.
I returned to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where I had served before coming to Sylva.
My family and I loved the 'not too big, not too small' town on the banks of the Tennessee River. Check that: we did not love the oppressive heat. It was the place, though, where our children were born. And it was a time when Rebecca went back to school, and I learned much about serving a church.
I returned to Chattanooga last week to visit with a beloved mentor. Dr. Gary Carver was the pastor I served with at the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga before his retirement. An extraordinary preacher and a seasoned church leader, Gary is one of the best storytellers and followers of Jesus you'll ever encounter.
Gary and I speak on the phone frequently. His words of encouragement have helped to sustain me during hard times, and his thoughtful questions have challenged me during times of smooth sailing. Gary is more than a friend and a mentor. He is a spiritual guide and director. I pray that you have a Gary Carver in your life.
We were down in Gary's basement, looking through books from his pastoral library that he wanted to share with me, when he told me about something he had done recently. Gary had identified several people in his life who had impacted him in his young adulthood. Then, he sat down and wrote them each a letter to let them know how grateful he was for their contribution to his understanding of himself and his call to follow Jesus.
I'm curious. To whom would you write a letter?
Perhaps you would identify a teacher, a coach, a friend, or a co-worker. But would their impact on your life—and your sense of gratitude to them—be significant enough for you to share how you feel about them in a letter?
Sadly, the spiritual discipline of thanksgiving gets attention only once or twice in the church calendar year. And yet, the practice of acknowledging God's gifts to us is not only good for our souls but also our relationship with God. Our thanksgivings strengthen our quality of life. They give our lives perspective. Indeed, our thanksgivings—when given voice—become blessings to others.
I am most grateful for my ongoing friendship with Gary Carver. I pray that he knows what a gift he has been to me personally and in my ministry.
How about you? Who needs to hear from you today?