This morning, December 22, is the birthday of my youngest brother who transitioned to be with the Lord just a few years ago. Missed by many and gone far too soon, he was a very accomplished musician whose legacy started in grade school where he was All-City, playing the trombone. His love for music continued as he started playing bass. As a teenager, he was part of a local high school trio that won a city-wide battle of the bands and was rewarded with a RCA recording contract. The drummer of the band has been pastoring for a few decades now, but on more than one occasion, he reminded me of the Sunday mornings, after playing a Saturday night “gig,” not one of the trios’ parents allowed them to miss Sunday School and morning worship service. Those were the days you had no choice, and you could not opt for virtual “attendance.” By the way, the latte, not attending in person, robs one of fellowship and prevents them from being a present encourager for fellow brothers and sisters in the congregation.
Back to my younger brother. He played with several renown groups, including the Spinners. There is one song that is a tribute to a mother named Sadie, a woman who called her child to eat, but upon arriving to find breakfast on the table, he was told there was no time to eat, and he had to hurry to Sunday School.
While I have been speaking of memories, my main message for you is capsulated in both extracts about my brother’s life. The message is simply that you should hurry to get there this Sunday morning. And don’t make it a “Sunday before Christmas” thing. Make a commitment to make Sunday School and Worship Service attendance a prioritized and achieved goal every Sunday. Hurry to get there! The only exception is those who are not able to attend because of physical reasons or being confined in a long-term/short-term health care facility. That’s when “virtual worship” becomes a benefit. But again, I encourage you in love, “Hurry to get there!’ Go praise the Lord! Go be fed from manna from on high! Go get well-suited to be influential in making this world a better place. You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world!
Listen, if we each make the spaces we are in better places, think of the impact! Again, “Hurry to get there!” Be blessed!
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122: 1 King James Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King