A Missionary Guide to Life, in Brief
The clouds remained as God appeared. This is an apposite analogy for how he leads us all. It matters not if you’re a clergy or a lay within the role you play. The challenge is to stay the course. As Scripture says, “The one that shall endure unto the end is he who shall be saved.” That verse from Matthew 24:13 did make indelibly a mark that Catharine, Franks aunt, impressed upon his soul.
She said the start is not what matters most. What matters is how you complete the race. But Frank had always focused on the day when God appeared.
God’s face was clear that day. He said, “Franklin, be a missionary.”
That face-to-face occurred when Frank was four.
At once, he left his bedroom window frame. He hurried to his mother who was in the downstairs kitchen. “Mom,” Franklin exclaimed, “God’s face appeared and told me that he wants me to be a mission’ry for him.”
Frank’s mom reacted in a muted way, as if it were too much to comprehend. But Frank, though four, knew that the call was one that ever and forever would guide him. Yet, I must say that’s where the clouds come in. The face of God withdrew just as it came, with clouds the subtext left behind that day.
With these brief words, I introduce you to the story of how Frank lived out that call. “An epic tale,” is what some say transpired. But you, my audience, must be the ones to judge if it is epic or just prose. Frank did his best, but let me tell you now, he seemed a saint, but was a sinner to the many who, in him, just saw hubris.
. . .
Same, but in verse format:
The clouds remained as God appeared. This is
an apposite analogy for how
He leads us all. It matters not if you're
a clergy or a lay within the role
you play. The challenge is to stay the course.
As Scripture says, "The one that shall endure
unto the end is he who shall be saved."
That verse from Matthew 24:13
did make indelibly a mark that, Catharine,
Franks aunt, impressed upon his soul.
She said the start is not what matters most.
What matters is how you complete the race.
But Frank had always focused on the day
when God appeared. God's face was clear that day.
He said, "Franklin, be a missionary."
That face-to-face occurred when Frank was four.
At once, he left his bedroom window frame.
He hurried to his mother who was in
the downstairs kitchen. "Mom," Franklin exclaimed,
"God's face appeared and told me that He wants
me to be a mission'ry for Him."
Frank's mom reacted in a muted way,
as if it were too much to comprehend.
But Frank, though four, knew that the call was one
that ever and forever would guide him.
Yet, I must say that's where the clouds come in.
The face of God withdrew just as it came,
with clouds the subtext left behind that day.
With these brief words, I introduce you to
the story of how Frank lived out that call.
"An epic tale," is what some say transpired.
But you, my audience, must be the ones
to judge if it is epic or just prose.
Frank did his best, but let me tell you now,
he seemed a saint, but was a sinner to
the many who, in him, just saw hubris.