writing to a different beat

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears the beat of a different drummer.  -Henry David Thoreau

 

A few years ago, my pastor at the time, Scotty Smith in Franklin, Tennessee—was teaching a multiweek series on topics along the lines of shame, forgiveness, acceptance and grace. 

As the series moved forward each week, like clockwork, I began to notice a younger woman make her way down to the front after Scotty would finish up his message (always in his Sunday best which consisted of khaki’s, a polo shirt and Birkenstocks—she was stunning on the other hand, which only made it even more difficult to miss her).  And week after week something began to become more and more obvious to me—despite her model-like looks, she was really hurting.  

Scotty, who is married, has a very healthy marriage from all indicators.  My guess is that he may have been just a bit uneasy about it.  Pastors are human too you know.  The thought may have crossed his mind—What does this look like… what will people say?  Knowing Scotty the little amount I knew him, I am confident he never let her know that (if he did have such thoughts).  So, she kept coming, Sunday after Sunday.  What they talked about, I have no idea. I do know this though—one Sunday she made her way down front again after he wrapped up his message and just moments later after her arriving at the podium, Scotty reached out and embraced her.  He didn’t care what the chatter over at the local greasy-spoon buffet was gonna be about afterwards—or the stares and glances he might encounter.  What mattered was what she needed and it didn’t matter what he thought, she thought, or anyone else thought.  He was going to love this woman.  Looking back now, I think it’s safe to assume that the young lady experienced love in that embrace, and maybe for the first time in a long time. 

 

Scotty was marching to the beat of a different drummer that morning.

              

I guess the question I have for those of us who would write about Jesus is simple and to the point: If we aren’t willing to disregard what others think and risk being misunderstood—what in the world are we doing?  If we don’t see our writing as a tool to touch those who are hurting, lonely, depressed, tired, confused—and lost—we might want to reconsider.

 

Jesus certainly marched to the beat of a different drummer. 

 

If we follow Jesus I think the question becomes—Which beat are we writing to?