Today the body of my Pastor was buried — he’s been on my mind, so I’d like to say a few things about him…
Where do I begin?
There’s so much I want to say but I can’t seem to get it out in any coherent way. Does that ever happen to you?
In many ways, Pastor Bob Reid was my first Pastor. I don’t mean to slight the men whose churches I was in before – but I was a kid then… Pastor Reid was MY Pastor: the pastor who married me and Caroline on that beautiful snowy day in December, the pastor who was the first one at the hospital (along with Mrs…) when little Autumn came along, the pastor who took me under his wing and allowed me to serve with him, the pastor who daily showed me what steadfastness was all about, the pastor who gave such good counsel… and on and on I could go.
Could I share just one memory? Somehow, Pastor Reid got ahold of a video by a man named Jim Cymbala — a video on prayer. He showed this video to us at the church and it really got under our skin. As a result we began having these Monday night (I think it was Monday) prayer meetings — a few adults and a bunch of the teens… they weren’t your typical service: there was no speaking or preaching. We’d just sing a song or two and start praying and I seem to remember some of these ‘meetings’ going on for a couple hours or more. Never before or even since, have I had such times of prayer. Of hearing others, old and young, just earnestly and passionately talking to God. Like so many things, these times sort of dwindled away — it’s impossible to say how or why, but unfortunately they did. But I remember them vividly and it’s a great memory.
The years we spent at Friendship with Pastor Reid seem both long past and terribly recent. What I know about those years, though, is that they were perhaps the most pivotal in our lives. After we moved to Florida, distance diminished our interaction — I hate how that happens — but neither distance nor time could ever diminish the impact this man had on me and on my family. As much as we can be in debt to another human being, I am in debt to Pastor Reid. Ultimately, I want my life to please my Savior — but I would be happy as well if my life, and what God may do with me and Caroline would bring a smile to the face of my Pastor.
April 20th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Truly you have captured his ability to relate to all of us in his capacity as a man preaching Gods’ word. I have good memories of him also. One of the most memorable was the months that my Uncle Frank spent at my Mom’s home as he battled cancer. Pasor Reid was a comfort to all of us. Methodically Pastor Reid and my Mom helped Uncle Frank rid himself of lifes burdens, build bridges with his children, and then my Uncle gave his life to Christ and died in complete peace with himself. I recall Pastor Reid saying, upon being questioned why he was spending so much time at Mom’s house when he had so many things to be doing, “Miracles are a wonder to see, hear and be witness to, and miracles are happening here every day.”
So many sermons may have been forgotten but yet influenced us to whom we are today. So, with a heavy heart, goobye for now Pastor Reid.