You'll Do!
- Richard Selke
- Jan 3, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 31, 2024
January 3, 2024
LISTEN TO AUDIO
While I was in the process of closing my law practice and preparing to go to seminary, I was serving on the staff of Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.
I was at Methodist Hospital visiting a church member who had just had triplets. The babies were about to go home after spending time in the special care unit.
As I was leaving a woman came up to me and said, “Are you a pastor?”
“I’m not a real pastor,” I said.
“Well you’re here visiting patients,” she said. “You’ll do.”
I asked, “What’s going on?”
“I have a young mother who’s just given birth to a baby boy. He’s not going to make it. She’s Catholic. Her priest is on his way but he’s not going to get here in time. I need you to baptize the baby and give him his last rites.”
I was speechless. She said, “Come with me!” And I did.
I held the baby in my arms and looked at the mother and prayed. I didn’t know the exact words for the baptism. I thought about baptisms I’d attended in the past and tried to remember the words that were spoken.
I had no idea what to say about last rites. But I did it. And while the baby was in my arms, he died.
I handed him back to his mother, left the room, found an empty stair well, set down and wept. I still do every time I think about it.
I came back to the church and tried to find Jim Jackson, my pastor. Jim was gone. I told his assistant, Judy Sharp, what had happened and returned to my office.
Soon I got a call from Matt Russell, a pastor on staff. Judy had told him what happened. I told Matt how totally unprepared I was and how overwhelmed I felt. Matt said, “Richard, you were exactly what that mother and her baby needed. You were exactly in the right place at the right time.”
And I believe him.
I believe God had me in the exact place at the exact moment to be and to do exactly what that mother and her new son needed. And despite my being totally unprepared and inadequate for the task at hand, I believe God used me by giving me exactly what I needed and He wanted me to have in that moment.
God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. The Lord will call on us at times and ask us to do things that are way beyond our comfort zone. When that happens, we can pray, acknowledge that the Lord is with us, have comfort that He will equip us, and faithfully do whatever He’s calling us to do.
People need us. We may be the only Christians some folks will ever meet.
The boy’s name was William.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, you'll do!
QUESTION
Are you ready to respond in faith to God’s call even though you feel unprepared to do what He asks? Do you trust Him?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we offer ourselves as instruments of Your love, mercy and grace in this world. Help us to trust You that You will equip us to do whatever it is You are calling us to do. Help us to be good and faithful servants.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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