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January-March, 2022

A Miracle in Church

by Rev. Dan Strodl, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

Recently, I was asked to give a tribute in a church to my friend David, as part of a celebration of his life. He died last year, at the height of the pandemic, and only his family were able to attend his funeral. I worked with David over 40 years ago, long before he met his wife and had a family. His wife wanted me to share my personal experiences of David, so the congregation could get a full picture of him. I told her I’d think about it and get back to her.

My first thought was “No”. I couldn’t remember what we did together or what he was like so many years ago. But, then, memories came flooding back into my mind. We had so many fun and wacky times together, working in the creative department of a major advertising agency. I wrote down everything I could remember, which filled two pages. I got back to David’s wife and said “Yes.”

I turned up at the church, feeling a bit nervous about giving a speech, but I thought it would be only a few members of his family and friends and I would get through it. As I walked into the church, I was filled with terror!! The church was packed with 250 people!

Public speaking was never my thing, although I took many workshops on public speaking and building confidence in front of large groups of people. All of what I learned had vanished, and what I was left with was terror. What if I forgot to mention important stories about him? What if I mixed up the names of people? What if I said something that embarrassed his family?

Yikes! I had my notes and my glasses, and I accepted that I could just read from the pages, but even this filled me with fear. I sat in the pew wishing I had never agreed to this. Then, I remembered that I had someone who was always there to help me, so I handed it over to the Holy Spirit. I closed my eyes, stepped back, quieted my mind, and invited the Holy Spirit to talk through me.

“The miracle comes quietly into the mind that stops an instant and is still.” (T-28.I:11)

When I was called up to speak I was feeling happy and peaceful. I climbed up into the pulpit, and looked out into the church, filled with David’s family and friends. What a joyful occasion to share about a truly remarkable person to a roomful of people who loved him.

I just let the words come through me, as Holy Spirit was in charge. I didn’t need my notes. And as I shared my experiences of this wild and wonderful creative genius, the audience responded with laughter and applause.

What a miracle! I’m so glad that I quieted my mind and invited the Holy Spirit to speak through me.

“In quietness are all things answered, and is every problem quietly resolved.”
(T-27.IV.1)

After the ceremony so many people came up to me and thanked me for my tribute to David. But all tribute is due to the Holy Spirit.

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