GSPC NEWS Called to Serve
September Edition | 2018
300 GOVERNMENT STREET | MOBILE, ALABAMA 36602 251.432.1749 | GSPCMOBILE.ORG One of the simple pleasures of living at midtown in the beautiful Oakleigh Garden District is the proximity to downtown: walking distance. This is sometimes useful, specifically during Mardi Gras season when you may or may not be able to drive to your office that resides near the vicinity of an active parade route. This proved to be the case during the most recent season and it inspired the article you are reading. Each year on Fat Tuesday, I take a casual stroll down my front steps, admiring the beautiful lawn of the Winns’ home just across the street, and head east down Selma to Broad where I make my way downtown to enjoy the festivities that a native Mobilian comes to appreciate and expect during the season. This year, all casual intent fled with haste as my plan was unceremoniously changed with a phone call. You see, I meticulously plan every detail to the best of my ability and I had done just this such two weeks prior. Knowing the church, and therefore my office would be compromised in accessibility, I heartily planned and executed my duties for the period two weeks prior so that all would be as I left it when able to resume normal schedule. I could leave and not worry about a thing because everything that could be done, was done. Monday evening was upon us and I’m ready to enjoy the days ahead and it was then I received a call from Pastor Paul that a church member had passed and a funeral had to be planned for two days later. “...alright, not a problem, get right on it”. I quickly changed my plans for Tuesday and departed Broad Street to the nearest funnel cake vendor, purchased a lemonade, and made my way to my office to plan and rehearse for a funeral. It is a great comfort in life being able to plan and control each facet of our lives; I find liberty in the discipline of time-management and how we plan for each task no matter how great or small. It is when we neglect to account for the potential, or we surprise at the unexpected that is the measure of just how disciplined we really are. We are on the cusp of many new beginnings. The fall season brings with it the start of academia and church programs like Sunday School, choirs, and supper clubs; sporting events and music lessons – all things we likely schedule into our calendars or do by rote because “that’s what we’ve always done”. A little farther off we begin the holiday season, and in church we begin a new liturgical year at Advent – a season of expectation for what is to follow in the celebrations of Christ’s birth and life. As I was walking home late that Tuesday evening, the parades were over and revelers were packing up their plunder, I passed a young mother with a few children and heard her say “next year, we’re going to_____ and doing _____”. As I left the vendor with funnel cake in tow, I overheard yet another mother with several children say the same thing. Naturally, I laughed at the irony of having planned two weeks ahead, and here they are planning a year ahead. How quickly things change. In the grand scheme of things, I wonder with what energy do we plan our seasons of life. If we examine each entry on our calendar and studied its priority on the effect it has in our lives, would it sustain us for the potential and unexpected, or would it spin out of control? Further, how does that translate spiritually? Does our commitment to all things Holy sustain us in the rhetoric of everyday life, and do beginnings really impact and refresh us, or are they simply line items to carry us on another day? I challenge us all to look at the coming “beginnings” with objectivity. If we are to be “salt and light” then we can’t lose flavor or shine, and, in fact, we must find ways in which to preserve and recharge. I submit that GSPC can do both. Wherever you are serving or could serve, do so heartily and with expectancy, and fresh energy and do so remembering Excellence in all things, and all things to God’s glory!
-Tommy Watts