Reverend Larson, the new minister...
Illustration
Object:
Reverend Larson, the new minister of Highlands Presbyterian Church, was making the
rounds, visiting with members of his new congregation. He had called Gene Proctor
earlier that morning and asked if he could stop by in the early afternoon and Gene had
said he'd be looking forward to it. So when Reverend Larson knocked on Gene's back
door, he sensed nothing unusual.
"Come in, come in," said Gene. "I was just making chocolate chip cookies. Sit down, let me get you one."
"Thanks, Gene. You have a lovely home. So, how are you today?"
"Oh, I'm good," said Gene, rushing in with a plate of cookies. "How are you?"
"I'm good. Busy, trying to get unpacked and straightened up, but we're finding our way around town all right."
"And you like it here?"
"Oh, yes, it's very nice."
"Now, tell me, where do you live?"
Reverend Larson paused for a moment. Everyone knew he lived in the manse right next door to the church. There had been a big renovation project going on for months.
"Uh, I live in the manse, you know, right next to the church."
Gene looked puzzled for a moment and then his hands flew up to his cheeks.
"Oh, now I know who you are. You're the new minister, aren't you?"
"Yes, Gene. I met you in church. I called earlier and said I was coming."
"I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you without your robes," said Gene with a laugh.
"Well, who did you think I was?"
"Oh, I don't know, someone passing through."
"Do you always invite strangers in and offer them chocolate chip cookies?" asked Reverend Larson, a smile spreading across his face.
"No, not usually. But you know, the Bible says, 'Remember to welcome strangers in your house,' so I guess I should."
"Come in, come in," said Gene. "I was just making chocolate chip cookies. Sit down, let me get you one."
"Thanks, Gene. You have a lovely home. So, how are you today?"
"Oh, I'm good," said Gene, rushing in with a plate of cookies. "How are you?"
"I'm good. Busy, trying to get unpacked and straightened up, but we're finding our way around town all right."
"And you like it here?"
"Oh, yes, it's very nice."
"Now, tell me, where do you live?"
Reverend Larson paused for a moment. Everyone knew he lived in the manse right next door to the church. There had been a big renovation project going on for months.
"Uh, I live in the manse, you know, right next to the church."
Gene looked puzzled for a moment and then his hands flew up to his cheeks.
"Oh, now I know who you are. You're the new minister, aren't you?"
"Yes, Gene. I met you in church. I called earlier and said I was coming."
"I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you without your robes," said Gene with a laugh.
"Well, who did you think I was?"
"Oh, I don't know, someone passing through."
"Do you always invite strangers in and offer them chocolate chip cookies?" asked Reverend Larson, a smile spreading across his face.
"No, not usually. But you know, the Bible says, 'Remember to welcome strangers in your house,' so I guess I should."
