I had a conversation today that, given my stage in life, I will only have more of. It was a conversation with a friend that began about the ministry that we both hoped to have in the church we labor in, he as the most preeminent of the church’s founders, and me as the interim pastor. But we ended our conversation around a different topic: mortality.

My friend told me that he wanted to get certain things in place in the church in a few months because he sensed something was going very wrong with his health. His speech was slurring for short phrases and he found himself grasping to complete words; his wife had become alarmed and suspected a mini -stroke episode had also occured recently. Suffice it to say my friend was planning to see a neurologist soon, and I could detect that he was calmly but honestly expecting a serious prognosis.

As we paused and prayed together, I don’t think I really served him well with my prayer. I was somewhat in shock and I remember saying some clunky things like “Help us Lord to focus in the time You have given us” Ugh. The things pastors need to be forgiven for in moments of human crisis when we just don’t get it right.

Now, I know my friend forgave me. But I was struck with how solid his desire was to face this possible limiting of his life by desiring to apply the strength that he has to the legacy of his church. I admired that. In this case, given my friends history, I wasn’t surprised by it. But how humbling it was to be in the presence of such character.  These are the kinds of people who have buillt our churches. Will they be represented in the newest generation?