Yesterday my morning devotions asked, "Who was the first person you can remember who spoke to you about Jesus?" I kinda spent the rest of the day reminiscing.
I 'think' his name was Sonny Burton. We were sitting in Huckins' living room and he was singing us songs and playing his guitar. He was also the first African-American I had ever met face to face. I was probably 7 or 10-ish. It didn't last long, and the only song I knew was "Sunshine On My Shoulders" by John Denver, but I do remember him singing about Jesus, and talking about him, and he was happy.
Even though I went to church and Sunday School as a youth, I think it's interesting now that I can't recall a single Sunday School teacher I had, or anything I learned. Also, at the time I was best friends with the pastor's kids - Tim, Paul, and Dan Huckins. It was in their parsonage that we sat and listened to Sonny - he was visiting the family. We boys were taking a break from playing football or basketball or some such thing.
It never occurred to me until yesterday though, that he was the first person I remember who spoke to me about Jesus. And I mean spoke to me - personally. Of course I had sat in church services (though I probably didn't listen much). But I remember it being a weird feeling. I felt a bit awkward, but at the same time... it was like I could tell it was something really important - at least to him - and so it kind of gave one of those "chill" sensations. I don't know why I feel like I'm sitting there again right now. And I wonder... is that what drew me to Jesus? Is that what drew me to playing the guitar? Is that why I connect so much more with music than anything else?
It also makes me wonder... how many people do I speak to about Jesus? And how important does it seem to me? Honestly, I don't speak very often to people about Jesus, mostly because I don't want to offend them or turn them off or make them feel like I'm preaching to them. But that's really back-asswords isn't it? Because he has changed my life, and I should WANT to talk about him. And if I care about others I should WANT to talk to them about him.
But...
I remember Sonny. He was on the couch; us boys were sprawled on the floor. Yesterday I sent an email to Tim Huckins. He's a preacher in Ohio now. His brother Dan is a preacher somewhere else. Paul serves in the business world. I'm really glad for that day. I'm glad for those friends. Hmm. So... who told you?
3 comments:
The first thing I can remember about anyone telling me directly something about Jesus was when I was probably about 10 and in Barb Marquis' Sunday School Class. We were in a room with all white walls and she took a pencil and touched it to the wall so you could just barely see where she had done it. Then she said that the dot was our life here on earth and that all of the white walls were our time in heaven - so we need to make sure our life here gets us to our life there. I just remember thinking that the dot was awful small and all that white was pretty big. For some reason, that is the one childhood lesson that has stuck with me all these years.
i'm pretty sure it was my mom and dad. :)
but since we're into telling stories. The first childhood memory I have of a Jesus lesson was the year Bunker Hill did Son Coutry Farm for Bible School. Cindy Bear fed us jelly on crackers and made us sandles out of lenolium flooring and some string. Then she told us they were like the sandlas that jesus wore. the end.
Thanks for the comments Jane and Carrie. And for sharing your lives.
peace.
Post a Comment