Potluck in PA

July 16, 2007

Just an hour or so north into PA just outside Philadelphia, I headed to my next stop: Al & Angelee Benner-Smith’s church. This was to be a double-header for me: telling “Prologue” and “Love-song” after a potluck dinner Saturday night, then “Sabbath” as part of Sunday services the next day. The worship theme Sunday was a celebration of the arts, including a men’s quartet featuring Al.

The Benner-Smiths and I were classmates at Lancaster Theological Seminary – as well as co-conspirators for art & spirituality! We would do a ‘coffeehouse’ open-mike each semester, featuring our classmates’ talents for music, singing, skits, stories, etc. Over the years since graduation, we have taken turns ‘being there’ for each other with the scale of loving-kindness bending heavily to the Benner-Smiths. They invited me out to preach and do storytelling during that period after seminary and before my ordination (about 8 years), keeping me ‘in the game’ of ministry. Angelee preached at my ordination in 1996 and she was the celebrant for Daphni & me at our wedding in 2003.

There were a couple of surprises – gifts of grace, if you will. Out there in the audience on Saturday, was a young man who slipped in as I was starting my presentation. Afterwards, he came up to me and said, “You don’t remember me, do you? I’m Jack Kelleher!” Oh, wow! Jack was a classmate from West Point, Class of 1977. We were in the same regiment and did Recondo training together in a sawdust pit one lovely, hot summer’s day at Camp Buckner! I had recently reconnected with him on our class’s internet forum. He was one of the saner voices amidst the ranting and raving over the war and politics in general. I especially admired his references to literature and thoughtful responses. What a delight to catch up with him again.

June 17, 2007 – Morning

The next surprise was perhaps the most important thing that happened on my journey. The Benner-Smiths have a son named Ritter, who for many years was an only child. Now 13 years old, he is a more mature version of the little boy he was with a cherubic smile and golden hair. Ritt enjoys being a big brother now to 9 year old, Andrei, and 1 year + Cole. Al & Angelee adopted Andrei from Russia, a very difficult process that involved flying over there to bring him home. Soon after arrival, they began to learn of the formidable trauma that this little boy had suffered from physical abuse and neglect. Needless to say that there were some behavioral and health issues that proved challenging.

After completing my presentation on Sunday morning, I happened to sit next to Andrei. I noticed he was drawing on the bulletin and asked to see it. It was a small picture of a boat on the water with swirling winds – Jesus calming the storm at sea! I told him I loved it and wanted a copy. As I was leaving the sanctuary, Andrei presented me with a larger copy he had redrawn of his first picture! One of the stories I told inspired this image for him of Jesus Christ, who was able to silence dangerous powers. Thank God! That is exactly what I have hoped to accomplish for anyone who hears these stories of good news.