Friday, September 28, 2012

Onward, Christian Soldier




My husband noticed her first and pointed her out to me.  From our seats in the choir facing the congregation, we often see things others might miss. 

She is old, bent and using a walker.  Every Sunday, she sits on the end of a pew and an usher stows her walker in the narthex until the end of the service when it is returned to her during the singing of the last hymn.  She is always alone.  The experiences of her years, whatever they have been, sit heavily on her small frame.  Much of the time she slumps over so far to her left that it’s hard to see her there in the pew. 

This morning when the final hymn was announced, everyone stood and prepared to sing.  It took her a bit longer to struggle to her feet.  The aged hand reached forward and grasped the back of the pew in front of her.  Gradually she rose, and as she lifted her head and faced the altar her lips were moving with the familiar words:  "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war…"

That she faithfully struggles to be there every Sunday at 11:00 gives testimony to her own march in this Christian army.  Go onward, Christian Soldier…with the cross of Jesus going on before!