The River Church Community

On February 24th, I bLoGgEd about Shawn, who I met at Crema Coffee Shop.  I was able to share the gospel with him in this amazing God ordained encounter.  A few days ago, I again met with Shawn again.  This time we met across the street from Crema at Chipotle.  Nothing could have prepared me for what he was to say.  I assumed that he was going to ask more questions about scripture and God and that I would need to be “on my game” or in the very least able to respond with some wisdom.  We did a brief little check-in and then he hit me with the news: he is now becoming a Catholic Priest.  From marginal seeker to Priest in less than 60 days!  Wow!  My jaw hit the floor.  It took me a few minutes before I picked it up.  He enjoyed my slack jawed surprise.  And in the minutes that followed his incredible disclosure, I learned that our short conversation was the beginning of an intense process culminating in his road to ordination.  Apparently, at the age of 5, he had felt called to the Priesthood.  Since that day (for about 25 years I guess), he had been ignoring God’s invitation.  What he needed was a nudge and God used me, during our random encounter, to nudge Shawn into his calling.  

How odd is the economy of God!  I hardly did anything.  I merely showed up at a certain place at a certain time and opened my mouth.  I hardly said anything worth repeating.  I just spoke.  And BLAM!  A wanderer nearly becomes a priest.  If only we are open, God can do so much through us.  We only need to show up.  And BLAM—things change…

                    Tony Traback Pastor of Mission Mobilization