SOMETIMES WHEN GOD CLOSES A DOOR, HE OPENS A WINDOW!
Betty answered the door swiftly wondering who it might be. Bob of course had his own key, and always let himself in; but he usually showed up just after five p.m. To her surprise it was their district superintendent, Richard "Dick" Blarney himself.
"I was in the area, and I called your husband to see if he might be available after work. He told me he'd meet me here. I hope that's okay?"
Betty's natural hospitality kicked into gear (even as her baby kicked inside her stomach!). "Of course, please come in! Would you like some coffee? I have it ready to brew for when Bob usually gets home."
"That'd be great, please. Thanks for offering!"
She showed the superintendent into the den just as the phone was ringing. "Hello?" said Betty. "Hi, Honey," said Bob. "I'm on my way home just now. And I hope you don't mind. Our Superintendent Pastor Blarney wanted to see me, and my shift was ending early today, so I just invited him here." She took the phone into the kitchen to start the coffee as she answered. "I don't mind at all. I wonder what's up?"
"We'll soon find out. Be there in a minute. 'Bye."
She got the cups and saucers down, along with the other coffee things. She remembered the superintendent liked artificial sweetener, so she put several packets on a tray. Then went out to visit while the coffee ran through.
"That was Bob -- he's on the way."
"Great. And I guess the big day is coming along pretty soon for a new addition. How have you been, Betty?" he asked.
"Oh, I've felt well the last few months. Really incredibly well. I exercise regularly, and I think that has really helped."
"I'm glad to hear it. I understand this was sort of an unexpected surprise." And when he saw her wondering who had given word about this, he added, "Bob told me in an earlier conversation. And you've got people in your prayer circle that gave us a call at the district office whenever they knew a baby was on the way."
She blushed and smiled just as the front door knob turned. In a second Bob was in, and at her side planting a quick 'hello' kiss on her lips. "How are you? I'm sorry I didn't give you any more notice than I did."
"It's okay -- I don't mind at all. Dick is welcome any time," she beamed sincerely.
"I do appreciate your flexibility, guys. I just wanted to bring you both up to speed on a new development. Considering the job you've done, and your evident enjoyment of the work at St. Mark's, I thought you'd want to hear of this directly from me."
"Sounds good to me," nodded Bob, shaking Dick's offered hand.
Betty heard a gurgling sound from the kitchen. "Coffee's ready. I'll be right back."
"Work's good. I stay busy. I'm down to 25 hours a week now at Samson's Hardware and
Lumber because of my duty's at St. Mark's. But my boss is a good guy about it. As long as I'm
willing to work some odd-ball hours during the week, it all comes out okay."
Dick nodded, and they both thanked Betty for the coffee -- and some oatmeal cookies she had put on the side. She started to leave, but he stopped her. "Betty, what I want to say, I intended for you to hear too. If you're not too busy, please have a seat."
She sat by Bob while the superintendent continued.
"I wasn't just asking about your other job to make small talk, Bob. I wanted to know if you're work there is still satisfactory -- from their point of view as well. And I wanted to know if it has been all right with your employers at Samson's Lumber to work on the side as a pastor. Sometimes your main employer can feel cheated when you shift to fewer hours. They worry about your efforts falling off due to concern with the other work opportunity."
Bob shook his head. "I did struggle the first couple of weeks. But I was able to work out a good deal with both the church and Samson. The guys at Samson know I'm doing my best, and I'm not slacking off."
"Well, that's good! Because, as I said before, you've done a fine job at St. Mark's. You've given them some hope. You've definitely fed the flock with your sermons and teaching. And you did what I asked you to do back at the beginning: you kept them strong and got them ready for somebody permanent. You know Gene and his wife will be coming along in about six weeks."
"Yes, sir. And I'm working with the trustees to make sure the parsonage is ready."
Dick nodded. "And that's another thing. You've been a real big help in working with the church to make the improvements they needed to make. We all really appreciate that, Bob," he said sincerely.
"You're welcome, Dick. I was glad to be of help."
"Well. Now to the main reason for my coming. You've done such a good job at St. Mark's part time, that it occurred to me that maybe you'd like to keep your hand in a little longer."
Bob and Betty looked at each other in surprise. "What exactly do you mean? We both know Gene Guidry's coming to St. Mark's . . . ."
Dick waved his hand. "I'm not talking about St. Mark's. We've got a situation out at Browning Lane. It's about 20 miles from here, just out in the country. It's a church with real potential in an area that's starting to draw a lot of people."
"Wait a minute," started Bob. "Browning Lane. I've heard of it. Isn't that the place where old
William Barrett died a few months ago?"
Dick nodded somberly. "I've been staffing it with lay speakers, and I've been going there myself for the last several months for communion. I need someone to take it permanently -- well, at least for the next two years or so."
Bob nodded. "Poor Will. He was already retired when he was serving there, wasn't he."
"Oh, yes. Will retired nearly five years ago, but asked to come out of retirement part time. He and Louisa actually moved into the parsonage of the Browning Lane church; but you wouldn't have to do that -- especially with the baby coming due."
"You're asking me to take Browning Lane?"
Dick nodded and smiled. "I am. It's part time. You could keep your present job, I'm sure. I know the folks at Browning Lane Church would all understand. It's a half-time appointment.
The commute's not bad. And the parsonage there is clean and empty, if you wanted to spend
weekends there, and travel over on Wednesdays. I'm sure we could work something out with the leadership there to accommodate your work schedule. And I know they'd love to have someone of your skills on a regular basis. What do you say?"
Bob looked at Betty and laughed. "You know, St. Mark's has been God's way of showing me my calling all over again. The Lord has certainly shown me what I've missed. Normally you give us at least an hour to think about it and talk it over."
Dick got up and smiled -- but not without helping himself to one more cookie. "I'll give you a day, if you need it. Call me tomorrow with your answer."
"Wait!" said Betty standing up too. "If it's me you think you need to hesitate about, think again. I missed being a pastor's wife all that time. And I like being one again. I like an adventure. And I'm saying yes!"
Bob stood and smiled as he hugged his wife. "And I'm saying yes too!"
Dick smiled and offered his hand in a good-bye. "That's fine -- from both of you. But you know the system. You still go ahead and think about it. Talk and pray about it. And call me tomorrow, if you've changed your minds."
"I don't believe we will," nodded Bob. "But I'll call you at break time tomorrow for sure."
Dick picked up the hat he had left on the stand just inside the door. "Do one more thing too, if you don't mind. If you're sure of this, then write me a letter of acceptance to Browning Lane, Bob. It's a formality, but we'll need it for the records."
"The old paper trail," Bob nodded. "Will do. Good-bye, Dick!"
When the district superintendent had left, Bob looked into Betty's eyes. "Well?"
She kissed him and smiled. "Well what? I'll get the stationery so you can start writing that letter of acceptance."
"But what about our new baby? Will it be okay for me to travel away from you for a couple of days a week to tend to matters at Browning Lane?"
"If I need help when you're gone, we have all these church friends -- and now from two churches!"
"That is true," he allowed.
"And besides," she added, still in his arms. "If they want to be served for the long term by a really talented younger pastor, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to make such allowances with their new preacher becoming a father all over again."
"Yes," he said, watching Dick drive away. "I'm sure they will."
THE END
LBC
 |
| She heard the doorbell ring. It was the district superintendent. |
"I was in the area, and I called your husband to see if he might be available after work. He told me he'd meet me here. I hope that's okay?"
Betty's natural hospitality kicked into gear (even as her baby kicked inside her stomach!). "Of course, please come in! Would you like some coffee? I have it ready to brew for when Bob usually gets home."
"That'd be great, please. Thanks for offering!"
She showed the superintendent into the den just as the phone was ringing. "Hello?" said Betty. "Hi, Honey," said Bob. "I'm on my way home just now. And I hope you don't mind. Our Superintendent Pastor Blarney wanted to see me, and my shift was ending early today, so I just invited him here." She took the phone into the kitchen to start the coffee as she answered. "I don't mind at all. I wonder what's up?"
"We'll soon find out. Be there in a minute. 'Bye."
She got the cups and saucers down, along with the other coffee things. She remembered the superintendent liked artificial sweetener, so she put several packets on a tray. Then went out to visit while the coffee ran through.
"That was Bob -- he's on the way."
"Great. And I guess the big day is coming along pretty soon for a new addition. How have you been, Betty?" he asked.
"Oh, I've felt well the last few months. Really incredibly well. I exercise regularly, and I think that has really helped."
 |
| The coffee was almost ready. |
She blushed and smiled just as the front door knob turned. In a second Bob was in, and at her side planting a quick 'hello' kiss on her lips. "How are you? I'm sorry I didn't give you any more notice than I did."
"It's okay -- I don't mind at all. Dick is welcome any time," she beamed sincerely.
"I do appreciate your flexibility, guys. I just wanted to bring you both up to speed on a new development. Considering the job you've done, and your evident enjoyment of the work at St. Mark's, I thought you'd want to hear of this directly from me."
"Sounds good to me," nodded Bob, shaking Dick's offered hand.
Betty heard a gurgling sound from the kitchen. "Coffee's ready. I'll be right back."
Both sat down again to wait for the coffee. "First things first! Tell me about your other job:
how's it going? I already know the church assignment's been going well.""Work's good. I stay busy. I'm down to 25 hours a week now at Samson's Hardware and
Lumber because of my duty's at St. Mark's. But my boss is a good guy about it. As long as I'm
 |
| Bob had a good part time job at Samson's Lumber and Hardware. |
Dick nodded, and they both thanked Betty for the coffee -- and some oatmeal cookies she had put on the side. She started to leave, but he stopped her. "Betty, what I want to say, I intended for you to hear too. If you're not too busy, please have a seat."
She sat by Bob while the superintendent continued.
"I wasn't just asking about your other job to make small talk, Bob. I wanted to know if you're work there is still satisfactory -- from their point of view as well. And I wanted to know if it has been all right with your employers at Samson's Lumber to work on the side as a pastor. Sometimes your main employer can feel cheated when you shift to fewer hours. They worry about your efforts falling off due to concern with the other work opportunity."
Bob shook his head. "I did struggle the first couple of weeks. But I was able to work out a good deal with both the church and Samson. The guys at Samson know I'm doing my best, and I'm not slacking off."
"Well, that's good! Because, as I said before, you've done a fine job at St. Mark's. You've given them some hope. You've definitely fed the flock with your sermons and teaching. And you did what I asked you to do back at the beginning: you kept them strong and got them ready for somebody permanent. You know Gene and his wife will be coming along in about six weeks."
"Yes, sir. And I'm working with the trustees to make sure the parsonage is ready."
 |
| Browning Lane was a Congregation a few miles out in the country. |
"You're welcome, Dick. I was glad to be of help."
"Well. Now to the main reason for my coming. You've done such a good job at St. Mark's part time, that it occurred to me that maybe you'd like to keep your hand in a little longer."
Bob and Betty looked at each other in surprise. "What exactly do you mean? We both know Gene Guidry's coming to St. Mark's . . . ."
Dick waved his hand. "I'm not talking about St. Mark's. We've got a situation out at Browning Lane. It's about 20 miles from here, just out in the country. It's a church with real potential in an area that's starting to draw a lot of people."
"Wait a minute," started Bob. "Browning Lane. I've heard of it. Isn't that the place where old
William Barrett died a few months ago?"
Dick nodded somberly. "I've been staffing it with lay speakers, and I've been going there myself for the last several months for communion. I need someone to take it permanently -- well, at least for the next two years or so."
Bob nodded. "Poor Will. He was already retired when he was serving there, wasn't he."
"Oh, yes. Will retired nearly five years ago, but asked to come out of retirement part time. He and Louisa actually moved into the parsonage of the Browning Lane church; but you wouldn't have to do that -- especially with the baby coming due."
"You're asking me to take Browning Lane?"
Dick nodded and smiled. "I am. It's part time. You could keep your present job, I'm sure. I know the folks at Browning Lane Church would all understand. It's a half-time appointment.
 |
| The district superintendent had a real good idea. |
weekends there, and travel over on Wednesdays. I'm sure we could work something out with the leadership there to accommodate your work schedule. And I know they'd love to have someone of your skills on a regular basis. What do you say?"
Bob looked at Betty and laughed. "You know, St. Mark's has been God's way of showing me my calling all over again. The Lord has certainly shown me what I've missed. Normally you give us at least an hour to think about it and talk it over."
Dick got up and smiled -- but not without helping himself to one more cookie. "I'll give you a day, if you need it. Call me tomorrow with your answer."
"Wait!" said Betty standing up too. "If it's me you think you need to hesitate about, think again. I missed being a pastor's wife all that time. And I like being one again. I like an adventure. And I'm saying yes!"
Bob stood and smiled as he hugged his wife. "And I'm saying yes too!"
Dick smiled and offered his hand in a good-bye. "That's fine -- from both of you. But you know the system. You still go ahead and think about it. Talk and pray about it. And call me tomorrow, if you've changed your minds."
"I don't believe we will," nodded Bob. "But I'll call you at break time tomorrow for sure."
Dick picked up the hat he had left on the stand just inside the door. "Do one more thing too, if you don't mind. If you're sure of this, then write me a letter of acceptance to Browning Lane, Bob. It's a formality, but we'll need it for the records."
"The old paper trail," Bob nodded. "Will do. Good-bye, Dick!"
When the district superintendent had left, Bob looked into Betty's eyes. "Well?"
 |
| She was ready for him to write that letter of acceptance right then. |
"But what about our new baby? Will it be okay for me to travel away from you for a couple of days a week to tend to matters at Browning Lane?"
"If I need help when you're gone, we have all these church friends -- and now from two churches!"
"That is true," he allowed.
"And besides," she added, still in his arms. "If they want to be served for the long term by a really talented younger pastor, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to make such allowances with their new preacher becoming a father all over again."
"Yes," he said, watching Dick drive away. "I'm sure they will."
THE END
LBC
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Hey, thanks for reading. Enjoy AND USE God's world to the full (otherwise you'll be disobeying Him!) Seriously. I'm serious, Mon!! Get your big shovel, and start digging in the ground . . . find oil, gas, coal, burn it, use it; refine it, and travel and function by it! It's God's will, AND we can now do it cleanly! It is time to obey God's orders from Genesis 1!