Just a Thought, Not a Sermon: Sanctuary

SANCTUARY
October 3, 1941-December 7, 2014

If my memory serves me right, Jim started attending Southern Hills United Methodist Church about the same time I became the pastor there in 2007. At that time, he really did not draw attention to himself. It was
when Jim met Cheryl that I became more aware of him as he asked if I would marry them. I gladly did and I slowly got to know Jim more.

My story with Jim really begins somewhere around 2012.

The more I got to know Jim, the more I became aware that his life was a struggle. When he showed up at Southern Hills he was seeking sanctuary, he was seeking grace, he was seeking forgiveness, he was seeking reconciliation, he was seeking acceptance. These things were very fleeting for him because he knew they could be snatched away at any second.

My real story with Jim begins one night in 2011 or 2012. He called me late one evening and felt it was urgent to talk with me. We arranged a meeting at McDonalds. I didn’t have a clue what was on his mind.

As we sat down together, he stated he was going to have to leave the church. Of course, being a pastor, my thought was how did I offend him? Did I say something, did I do something to upset him? Nooo—he just said he was going to have to leave the church. He couldn’t stay there any longer.

"Jim, at least tell me why?" I said. "Have I done something to offend you?" He responded by saying, "I can’t outrun it and if people find out, they will want me to leave, so I am going to leave before that happens."

I thought what could be so bad that he needs to leave? Unpaid traffic tickets, bad checks? Jim said, "It’s really bad." I said, "OK, tell me." "I spent 23 years in prison," he said. I will say, my jaw dropped. It certainly wasn’t speeding tickets.

OK, I repeated my question, "Why do you need to leave the church?" "Because eventually I am going to have to when people find out," he said.

"Well, Jim, I am not going to make you leave," I said. "As a matter of fact I would be very disappointed if you do leave."

"I can’t control what other people say, or do, but I will tell you that God wants you in this church," I continued. "I want you in this church. There is absolutely no reason to leave."

Over time, Southern Hills became very important to Jim and to Cheryl. He found a spiritual home when he didn’t have one. As a pastor I wanted him to have a chance to have sanctuary, to find grace, to experience some sort of reconciliation in his life.

Jim was a tough man who had to learn to fight to survive in prison, but he was soft at heart because somewhere along the way God touched him. So, we settled the issue, Jim was staying, I would back him up, if any questions arose. Upon authority as a pastor of the living Gospel, I gave him permission to call Southern Hills home.

He became part of this church, because it became his home.

His secret was no longer a secret to me, I took him at his word, I gave him trust, and he trusted me. With God’s help his life was a little fuller, a little more complete.

Communion — He felt he didn’t deserve it, but I wanted him to be first in line because that is where God wanted him to be.

He found what he was looking for. He shared what happiness he had with those around him. God was very important to him. Sitting in the pew, he found sanctuary. He found acceptance. He found grace to be real as he took God’s word to heart. Jim became a tree that bore fruit and discovered love.

Jim died in 2014 suffering a heart attack. I was privileged to perform his memorial service. I came to love the man.

We too, can become trees that bear fruit. We just need a little acceptance and love. It’s what Jesus would want you to do.

Just a Thought, Not a Sermon