Authority

I just got back from a memorial service. One thing that really struck me while I sat in this packed-out little church sanctuary: The brother-in-law of the guy who died is a retired pastor (Paul Tobias). He just shared briefly, and then read some stuff from the Bible. I mean, he's a feeble old man who's hands shake like a paint mixer... but while he was reading Scripture something strange began to happen. People who had been nodding off or daydreaming were suddenly sitting up straight. Their attention had been grabbed. Focus shifted.

It was just really cool to sit and listen to someone read Scripture LIKE THEY KNEW IT. He wasn't making anything up; he wasn't adding undue drama to it; he wasn't 'waxing poetic.' He was reading the stuff of which his soul was made. And it was beautiful.

Tom and I ask each other every Wednesday, "So how's your soul?" I don't think we really know how to answer this question yet, but I think... you can kinda tell how someone's soul is just by looking at them; by listening to them. There was a definite contrast in souls today in the two pastors who were up front. And the one wasn't trying at all... he just WAS.

When I die, I want someone like that to read Scripture at my funeral. I can't really think of anyone right off hand, but I don't want it to be someone who's just doing their job. I want it to be someone who reads what they KNOW. You know what I mean?