Devotional 2-28-10

Almost
It’s been just a little over two years since our dear friend Jim Ray passed away. We see signs of Jim’s presence all over town and especially within the walls of Johnson Memorial. I dare say not a Sunday goes by that we don’t say to ourselves, or perhaps out loud to someone else, “I remember when Jim did this” or, “I remember when Jim was a part of this.” Jim made a lasting impression – whether he knew it or not.

I had the privilege of being part of the Ashland Area Emmaus Community with Jim. A word that comes up a lot during Emmaus events is agapé. We recognize that as one of the Greek words for love. Jim would occasionally slip up and say the word as ‘Agrippa’ when he meant agapé. We (the other JM members of the AAEC) would giggle and keep on going. He may have never realized what he had said or recognized Agrippa as being King, the last of the Herods. Hardly interchangeable with love. Frederick Buechner in his book, Beyond Words, tells a brief story of Paul’s self defense argument while on trial in front of Agrippa. Paul, never at a loss for words, puts forth a strong case. When finished, Acts 26:28 records Agrippa’s comment; “Almost thou persuadest me to become a Christian.” (KJV) Almost!!

Jim was active all around the city of Huntington. He worked with the food and clothing pantry, helped at the Mission, took meals to friends and church members that could not get out and would carry after church luncheon leftovers to the staff and drivers at the TTA. He had gum for the kids and a smile for everyone. I wonder how many people he won to Christ through his words and actions and how many he felt “almost” came to Christ. Acts doesn’t give us Paul Harvey’s the Rest of the Story, so we don’t know for sure that Agrippa did not turn towards Jesus at some point. I had the honor to attend Jim’s funeral. I heard people that I did not know – and did not know Jim knew – speak from the heart about how Jim had touched their lives. No doubt the Almost column was not as long as Jim thought and the Persuadest column greater than he could have imagined.

As we go about our days we will have our ‘almost’ moments. God will take our almosts and make grace. Let’s remember Jim, tell his story, do his work and have faith.

Steve Matthews