THE GARDENER

"They see him and mistake him for the gardener, because they have no expectation of his return." This is a line of an email Bible study from my friend and former Pastor (kenraggio.com) that was in my inbox this morning. It triggered a memory from years ago of another church, another time, another life.

It was our church's second night in revival with an evangelist that had never been with us before this series of meetings and I was the hostess in charge of greeting people at the door. I was really anticipating this service because the previous night I had kept the nursery and had been relegated to catching occasional glimpses on the 12" by 12" black and white monitor and hearing snippets of preaching over multiple babies' crying.

A very distinguished looking visitor comes through the door and I want to make a good impression on him. After all, he just might be looking for a church. Very confidently, I extend my hand, grasp his in a warm handshake and with what I hope is a welcoming smile say, "Welcome to Bible Tabernacle. Have you visited with us before?"

I'm sure that I do not have the words to adequately describe the look on the gentleman's face, but it did convince me that what he said and what he wanted to say were two very different things. With his hand still being pumped eagerly in mine and a most solemn look on his face, he replied in a deep baritone, "I am Brother Grimsley. I was here last night."

The thing that happened next really is a moment frozen in time for me. The infusion of heat that spread from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet was quickly doused by the glacial dread of knowledge that I had failed to recognize our evangelist. I'm certain that I resembled a soul being wrenched spasmodically between two worlds as I sputtered and stuttered through my attempt to explain where I had been the previous night.

With my hand now caged firmly in his, much like a dove on its way to the altar of sacrifice, Brother Grimsley calmly looks me in the eye and says, "It's alright, Sister. They even mistook Jesus for the gardener."

Much to my discomfort, Brother Grimsley has derived much wicked pleasure out of introducing himself from the pulpit as "Brother Gardener" when preaching for us through the years. We have laughed together many times over my blunder. But I wonder...

How many people will miss Jesus' return because they have no expectation of such an occurance. Or perhaps on a more personal level...how many of us fail to see Jesus working in our daily lives because we are so busy doing for Him?

Do YOU ever mistake Jesus for the gardener?