Ken Edwards, Senior Pastor

He asked hundreds of questions, and he wanted to show me every new discovery. He could tell when I quit paying attention to him. I have memories of holding him in my arms, preoccupied by some mundane task while he was determined to tell me something new and exciting. He would grab my face with his little hands and pull my face to his, nose to nose, and he would say, “I’m talking to you.” I would apologize and listen to his story. I’m sure there are friends who have been just as frustrated with my distractibility.

One of the things I like about summer is that it is a time to slow down the pace a bit and pay attention to each other. Warmer weather has moved my family outdoors more, and we are more likely to wind up sitting on the porch, sharing a meal or a meaningful conversation, rather than going to our separate spaces in the house or watching something on television. Those face-to-face times are rich and rewarding. I regret some of the time I’ve wasted over the years, but I have never regretted taking time to listen and share with someone face-to-face. Those are true moments of God’s grace.

We need to share our stories with one other. The recent flood in Nashville made us aware of the need to share flood stories. We gathered around tables last Sunday and listened to those stories. I happened to be at the table with staff member Arnell Willis, and listened to her story of the flood waers entering her home. I sat with men from the former “tent city” as they shared their frightening story of watching all their belongings wash away in the river. I met a stranger in the hallway this week, and she shared with me that her home had been flooded. I stopped and listened to her story. These persons need our assistance, but they also need our attention. I’ve heard that some of our children were traumatized by the flood; they need our reassuring attention. In these face-to-face moments we will meet God and experience God’s grace. We won’t regret giving the time to pay attention!