Remembering

While reading what the gospel writer, John, had to say about John the Baptist, I foiund myself remembering some saints from long ago who may have diappeared from the pages of some memories, but remain steadfast in mine.  Back when I was a college student and very young ministerial candidate I worked at a District Youth Camp at Kolomoki State Park near Blakely, Georgia.  This evening I was remembering some of the slightly older pastors who served the church and the camp: Virgil and Sue Lee, Asbury and Eleanor Walton.   

Those years at the Camp were formative years for a lot of young people and for this young ministerial student as well.  They gave steady leadership to the camp, created an atmosphere where young folks could discover faith, and in general, be a  part of those who were building up the body of Christ.   Although it has been over fifty years since I served under their leadership as a counselor, they are remembered this night with much appreciation.  

I am grateful for their influence back then and for their friendship over the years of a shared ministry.  All of us can point to folks like these who are a part of who we are and hopefully there are others out there who look back and count us as one worthy to be remembered in their own faith journey.  Perhaps, in the remembering there can also be a moment of reaching out to someone who encouraged us in the past, or at least giving thanks to God for an opportunty to share the faith journey with one who has received the eternal blessings of the Father in heaven.