Herbert Johnson, a pastor well respected among the elders, picked the parson up mid-morning at the local pet care facility. The parson had dropped off Charlie Brown, his faithful canine companion, to visit his favorite vet while the parson spoke at a gathering some miles up the road. Fifteen minutes west of the pickup, they pulled into the parking lot at Frank Paulding’s church. Herbert and Frank were to serve on a panel following the parson’s address.
Herb and the parson hopped out to greet Frank who’d come out as they drove up. After greetings they all got into Frank’s minivan and headed down the highway. The trio exchanged the normal pleasantries as they drove along, inquiring of families and mutual friends. But twenty further into the hour-and-a-half trip each became quiet as the parson, sitting in the middle seat, studied his notes. Frank drove along, his index finger tapping on the steering wheel in time to the music on the CD. Herb read a book.
After a bit, Herb closed his book and reached into his shirt
pocket. He extracted a small stack of 3x5 cards. He read from the top card,
transferred it to the bottom of the pile, placed the cards back in his pocket,
and looked out the window for a few minutes.
Frank announced an impending pit stop. The parson put his notes back in his briefcase. They entered the convenience store amid one of Frank’s “preacher” jokes the punch line of which arrived at the drink dispensers. Filled cups in hand, they returned to the vehicle and resumed the journey. The parson rested his head against the seat and absent-mindedly passed the time. Frank changed from the CD to the radio. He hit the button for WUTC – Chattanooga just in time for the start of the start of Cleveland Carlson’s eclectic collection of music on the Morning Music show.
The third song on the day’s playlist was John Prine’s “Spanish Pipedream.” Herb turned with a questioning look and Frank tried to keep his eyes on the road when the parson on the chorus harmonized with Prine, if it is possible to harmonize with John Prine.
Blow up your TV
Throw away your paper
Go to the country
Build you a home
Plant a little garden
Eat a lot of peaches
Try and find Jesus
On your own
As soon as the parson and Prine completed their duet, Frank and Herb make appropriate condescending remarks, some in unison, about the parson’s future as a musical performer.
After the inappropriate applause, the trio settled down, listening to Carlson’s other selections of the day. Again, Frank’s fingers tapped out the rhythm; the parson looked over his notes; Herb removed his cards from his shirt pocket, studied the top one; moved it to the bottom; replaced the cards in his pocket, and then looked out the window for several minutes. Thirty miles further he repeated the process.
At the gathering, the parson gave his address on “A Hundred Faces of Jesus We See Every Day” and sat back in the audience to hear Frank and Herb engage in a discussion with the audience. After what seemed to be a fairly successful day, they headed home.
They discussed the good reception they had experienced, the audience’s reactions, the refreshments, and then the talk turned to shared experiences over the years. As they continued toward home, Herb periodically pulled the cards from his pocket and repeated the process.
When they arrived at Frank’s church, Herb asked if he could use the facilities. They all went inside the church and while Herb headed to the appropriate room, Frank pulled the parson into his study.
“Parson, what’s with Herb and the note cards?”
The parson explained that Herb made a covenant to pray for ten people in his congregation every day. He wrote their name on a card and made some notes about things going on in their lives. And as the day progressed he would pull out a card, examine the card, and then spend a few moments praying specifically about things in the person’s life.
“Does he let the people know he’s praying for them?”
“I don’t think he makes a big deal of it, Frank. In fact, I don’t think he tells them at all.”
“I don’t see the point, then.”
“Oh, Frank, I don’t think he does it just for the names on the card. He also does it for himself.”
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