A different kind of list

I love lists. Grocery lists, to-do lists, top ten lists, Christmas lists – I love them all. My friend, a counsellor by vocation, tells me it’s part of my personality: organized and striving for efficiency. I’m okay with that.

Lately, the Lord moved me to create a different kind of list, a list that has humbled me. On this list the Lord wanted me to include people I have somehow neglected to thank, encourage or bless. This was a hard list for me to make because the more names I penned, the more I discovered my mistakes, my shortcomings, and sometimes, my lack of love. Let me share my list of a different kind.

Jake

My list begins with the pastor of the church in which I grew up. Pastor Jake gave me an opportunity to preach to the people who had been a part of my life for many years. He was the first one to allow me to publicly exercise a gift the Lord had given me. He was never critical of my faux pas in the pulpit but instead invited me to prepare for the next time. I have never thanked pastor Jake for giving me the opportunity to exercise what is now my vocational calling: preaching. Now, because of my “different” list, I am resolved to communicate a word of thanks to pastor Jake.

Robyn

My Aussie mate Robyn is next on my list. We became friends some 20 years ago at a Christian camp in Victoria, Australia. Up until four years ago, our friendship was close. We would write each other regularly, praying for one another’s concerns. Robyn then encountered some struggles in her walk with the Lord and made some decisions that violated her own Christian convictions. She asked for my counsel and when I offered it, the breakdown of our friendship began. In four years I received one letter from Robyn, and it was addressed to my wife, making no mention of me. Writing her name down on my “different” list has inspired me to write Robyn a letter seeking to bring reconciliation between us.

Pat

Pat is also on my “different” list. Pat is the mayor of our wonderful prairie city. He loves our city and its people and he strives to make this community a better place for all its residents. He is a mayor of whom I am proud. Sadly, I’ve done nothing to be of encouragement to him. The Bible counsels Christians to pray for civic leaders and, I would surmise, support them in their work as well. Mayor Pat deserves to hear that Christians in his community are interceding for him before the Lord and willing to be of help when needed. I believe mayor Pat is on my “different” list to remind me to give him a face-to-face encouragement at one of the monthly open house events he hosts.

Kevin

Kevin the ex-con is on my new list as well. I first met him two years ago at the correctional facility here in the city. Soon he was released and I worked together with him on restoring his marriage and his role as a father. The week before a vacation trip I was planning, I arranged a meeting with Kevin to talk about his marriage. He never showed. I tried reaching him but to no avail. I left for my vacation and when I returned, I discovered that Kevin had moved to another province. Instead of making an effort to contact him, I left matters as they were, knowing full well he was struggling to stay out of prison and in his marriage. I don’t know where Kevin is today and have no way of reaching him. How should I act on this matter? This may not be the best response, but because Kevin is on my “different” list, I have determined to be ever more committed to never make the same mistake with another person.

And more . . .

There are additional names on my “different” list. Some who touched my life years ago, and some who cross my path today. With each name I jot down comes some sadness with how I dealt with that person. Thankfully, the sadness is accompanied by the Holy Spirit’s encouragement for me to act today with the love of Christ. This might mean seeking forgiveness, acknowledging a failure, or bringing a word of hope.

In short, writing down these names on the page in front of me has been both difficult and helpful. I trust I will be better for it. Hopefully, the next time the Lord moves me to create another “different” kind of list it will be much shorter than the one that stares back at me today. I hope so.

Philip Gunther is pastor of Parliament Community Church, Regina. He wrote this piece in 2003.