This was an unusual Sunday for us.
It all began about 35 years ago, when my husband was greatly blessed by some recorded sermons preached by the Rev. Terence Atkinson. The sound quality was poor in those recordings, but the content was Biblical and helpful to a young Christian.
My husband heard ‘through the grapevine’ that the Rev. Atkinson would be preaching this Sunday, at a church just an hour northwest of us! Having never met him in person, he just had to avail himself of this opportunity.
Into the van we all piled. We crossed the Canadian border without a hassle, and proceeded on our way. But then – I wish one of us had had a camera along – the rain pounded down. There was so much water bouncing off the road that visibility was about like that during a heavy fog. I’m paranoid about hydroplaning, too, so it was a bit of a nerve-wracking trip.
We arrived a wee bit late, but safely, and slipped quietly into the church.
Rev. Atkinson looked to be in his mid-eighties. He was of solemn demeanor, but cheery in conversation later. Yes; the sermon was very good, understandable, Biblical and edifying. I am glad all of us had the opportunity to meet this long-laboring servant of God.
For me, it was encouraging to see a very elderly man so full of fervor for God, not sunken in contemplation of the losses of old age.
For my husband, it was kind of like finally meeting an author or statesman you have admired from afar for many years. A once-in-a-lifetime thing.
Very special.
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