Ken Edwards, Senior Pastor

When I was a young child, it wasn’t unusual for my brother and me to spend a good portion of a day hoeing weeds in some field with long rows, alongside our father or grandfather. My grandfather was the master at sharpening our hoes. He would begin each day gathering all the necessary tools and making sure each was sharpened and ready for the field work. He also sharpened our kitchen knives and our pencils for school. We did not own a pencil sharpener because Granddad would take his pocket knife and give our pencils a clean and professional trim each morning before we headed off to school. When I tried to do this, the cuts looked like they had been performed by a clumsy beaver.

I thought about my granddad the other day as I was heading to my small vegetable garden to weed, hoe in hand. Halfway to the garden, I turned around and went back to find a file to sharpen the tool which looked dull and was covered with last year’s mud. Granddad taught me a life lesson. Always prepare the tools before heading off to do the work.

In the early years of ministry, I would try to get to the office before anyone else and I never found those quick starts to be very productive. One of the things I have learned is to take the time to sharpen the tools first. Most mornings I spend some quiet time alone in thought and prayer. I read from something devotionally, reflect on the scripture texts for the coming Sunday, meditate, and organize the day ahead. I also take some time for physical exercise before coming to the office, and the quiet of morning runs or walks becomes an extension of meditation and the practice of mindfulness. Sermon outlines often come to me during these moments of quiet reflection. And sometimes I go out to my garden in the early hours of the morning, pull a few weeds, and think about my granddad.