Pastor Nelson was new in our life. One of our writers for the Woodstock Townsman (we were editor writers for the back page) had introduced us to going to church. It was unheard of to us but she and I were "open minded." I thought the church he referred to, the Willow Wesleyan Church, was a museum. I would often notice its museum-ness in my jogging route as the "past." Alas, it was home of about twelve regular attenders and a high percentage of that twelve were the Nelson’s and Mary Owen’s children.
Herb Hartman was
introduced to me as an evangelist. They wanted us at church that night
as this week was "revival" week at our church. The way I remember
this conversation was that we were being reminded that the
"evangelist" was coming to town. Herb, his wife Sheila, who played
piano and sang with Herb, also had a nine year old son Stephen who did a puppet
show. Herb eventually preached a sermon and when he was finished invited people
to come forward in response to his message. I noticed no one came forward to
the altar area. When all was done and we were dismissed, I then noticed Herb
Hartman shaking hands as the attenders were going out the door. I am sure Herb
and Pastor Nelson were reminding people to come out tomorrow night and bring
friends. Wendy went ahead of me to prepare some things at home for us as I
still was not really home yet. So I saw an opportunity as the last person at
church to be social and to encourage this nice man Herb and his family.
"Mr. Hartman," I said. "You preached a very
good sermon and I am sorry that you got no response from the listeners."
Without missing a beat Herb said to me, "Would you like to come
forward?" Just like that. In my mind as I write this, I do not remember
what his sermon was about. I do not remember being emotional. In my mind I was
being adventurous and also polite as I followed Herb to the tiny altar space in
the white church building erected in 1854. What followed, however, was far from
normal and much greater than emotional. Pastor Nelson was soon praying with me
and, of course, so too was Evangelist Herb. Things were "happening."
Again I do not remember what was said to me or what I said. I do however know
the essence of the meeting happened for me at the altar. I looked over at the
window’s early evening’s reflection of myself. I heard a Presence say, "As
I was always with you alongside you, as a reflection, I am now in you as a
revelation of Me in you and you in Me."
The next thing I remember was being very happy. I asked the
nine year old Stephen if he would dance with me and we were very silly
together. Of course it was my influence, but I was soooooo happy. I came home, and Wendy was so happy with me and I
with her. I had a revelation kind of dream just prior to sleeping. It was sort
of like being in a live play versus watching a movie. In the dream I saw the
image of my most recent tarot card reader dissolve before my eyes. I did not
think of this until months later, but I noticed I was no longer smoking
marijuana either. In a subtle and yet obvious way, I had a new mind.
Two years later I gave up transcendental meditation. I
noticed I was not swearing anymore. I do not remember being told to do this or
do that, but I was changing. My nature was human but it was a new humanity –
one I did not know before. Wendy and I over the next few days, then weeks,
months and years, had lost all our former friends. It’s like we had a plague.
We eventually moved away and yet I remember Woodstock so fondly. The air, the
land we owned, the softball league, life-acting in Woodstock, the newspaper,
and of course, The Willow Church Pastor Nelson and Mary Owen and the Hartman
Harmonies . . . on and on and on.
I was "born again" that night thirty three years
ago. Yes, it is a birth canal and it is a lot different from Mom’s womb. I was
born again - but this time of the Spirit. What I am about to say is only for
human ears to hear. Whatever kind of human you are, we humans all have the same
origin and have so much in common. By God’s pure heart and personal desire we
have the same destiny, too. Namely, that we, all of us, would have a second
birth. He, the Son of Man, is also the son-author of humanity. Whatever your
starting point in life, even wherever you started this very day, He is ready to
initiate a new birth canal. He is the common integrator for all humanity. We
used to sing a song that seems appropriate to say now.
"There's just something about that Name."
"Jesus "
