The congregation stood for the reading of God’s Word, and Pastor Lewis blessed the passage coming and going.
“Let us read from Luke fourteen.” Everyone rose in unison except for a few folks at the very front. Owen figured they were new to the procedure as they struggled to their feet.
“Father, we ask for wisdom and understanding as we consider Your Word. Amen.”
“Amen,” the congregation murmured.
Pastor Lewis read the Scripture passage, then ended in his usual manner. “Thus saith the Word of God.”
Everyone knew this was their cue to sit. Everyone but the new people. Owen could see now that they were strangers tothe church. He was particularly intrigued by the shapely young woman standing beside an older matron.
“Folks, this is a good passage about thinkin’ of ourselves less and honorin’ others more. God doesn’t want you puttin’ on airs and runnin’ around looking for ways to make yourself seem important. When you got a weddin’ to go to, who’s important? The bride and groom, right? Don’t much matter if you’re there or not, unless you’re one of those two folks. Sure, you were invited, and you might even be kin, but the most important people are the ones who are gettin’ hitched.
“Now, don’t get me wrong, a weddin’ is a good time for everyone. A great celebration, and probably all the ladies in the church cooked up their best dishes. That’s always my personal favorite part.” He paused with a grin, and the people chuckled. “But anyhow, the Lord wants to teach us humility and understandin’. If we don’t practice it, we might call attention and embarrassment on ourselves. See, here Jesus is talkin’ about not sittin’ down at the best seats and then having to be asked to leave them for sittin’ at the far table. Just start out with the far table. The food will be just as good there as at the head table.” He chuckled. “Maybe better.”
The people laughed or smiled as the pastor continued.
“Don’t always be thinkin’ of yourself as so important. Throughout the Bible we’re told to think of other folks as better than ourselves. If we do this, we’ll treat them with respect and honor them with our conversation and actions. It doesn’t take a whole lot to show someone they’re important to us.”
He continued preaching about seeking humility. Owen understood this better than most. He’d spent a good part of his life avoiding the attention of folks around him. Unlike his younger brother, who craved attention. Unfortunately, his brother’s desires had often backfired on him, somehow managing to leave Owen wounded in the crossfire. Daniel just seemed to have a knack for being at the wrong place at the right time.
Owen pushed the thought aside. He’d come to worship the Lord, not to think ill of his brother. That kind of thinking could come at most any other time and often did.
“I can’t think of a single time,” the pastor declared, “when takin’ the lower place of importance served a man poorly. If he was already considered no account and unimportant, his decision to act as such left him without disgrace. And if he truly was important ... well, it gave the host a chance to esteem the fella and bring him honor and a little attention. Better to let someone else sing your praises than find yourself tryin’ to get folks to see how important you think you are. Especially if you aren’t that important.” He grinned out at the congregation. “But you know, each of you are important to the Lord, and because of that you’re important to me. I want you each to know what a blessing you’ve been to me.
“Now, I see we have some new folks with us today, and while I don’t know exactly who they are or how they will affect my life or yours, I’m asking you all to make them feel welcome after the service. And with that, I think Ralph has another song for us to sing.”
The song leader nodded to the organist, and the music started up once again. Owen smiled. Pastor Lewis always made his day better.
When the services were concluded, Owen slipped over to speak with LeRoy and Lia. The boys were immediately all over him.
“Uncle Owen, you gonna take us fishing today?”
“Not today, boys,” their father answered. “Remember, we’re heading to Poppy’s ranch to celebrate his birthday.”
“You’re welcome to join us, Owen. My father loves you,” Lia declared. “We’re taking the train both ways, so it won’t take long at all.”
“No. I didn’t sleep well last night and believe I’ll take a nap.”
LeRoy laughed. “Take one for me too.”
Owen promised he would, then made his way outside. Heglanced around, hoping to find the new folks so he could give them a proper greeting as the pastor had asked them to do. He spotted the older man and woman along with a young man he presumed was their son. They were talking to Pastor Lewis and his wife. Owen rounded the corner of the church and made his way toward a gathering of folks, where he found the young woman who’d caught his attention.
“Owen, I’m glad you’re here,” one of the ladies called. “Come meet Mrs. Jenkins.”
Missus, eh? Well, somehow that figured. Owen gave a wave to acknowledge he’d heard the request and made his way over. Mrs. Jenkins glanced up, smiling, and for a moment Owen felt his breath catch. She stepped away from the others and extended her hand. He reached to take hold in greeting.
Just then the squeals of children at play built to a crescendo as a herd of children came barreling at them. Two little girls were leading the way with a jump rope between them. One headed right and one left, resulting in Owen and Mrs. Jenkins being caught in the middle.
Owen grabbed hold of Mrs. Jenkins just as the rope snagged him behind the knees. The girls seemed immediately to know what they’d done wrong and ran back toward each other, further entangling the two adults. As Owen and Mrs. Jenkins began to fall, he rotated to take her weight atop him so he wouldn’t crush her. With awhoosh, they landed on the ground, bound face-to-face by the rope.
Owen couldn’t help but smile at Mrs. Jenkins’s surprised expression. “Welcome to San Marcial,” he declared, laughing.
To his surprise, she started laughing as well. The folks around them laughed as Owen sorted out the rope and got to his feet. He reached down to help Mrs. Jenkins, who was by now laughing so hard that she could hardly sit up. Her humor at the situation only made him like her all the more. It was a pity she was married.
He took her hand, but instead of pulling her to her feet,Owen was nearly forced to his knees. It was like trying to gather water. Her mirth made her completely useless. The people around her laughed all the more and offered a hand, but it seemed almost impossible to get Mrs. Jenkins to her feet even though she was but a slip of a gal.
Finally, however, they had her upright. She dabbed at her cheeks and shook her head as she met Owen’s gaze. “Well, I suppose I’ve made quite the impression.”
