Saturday, March 10, 2018

Ray

March 9, 2018

We waved to each other as we waited for the show to start. Then during intermission, I had the chance to walk back a few rows and talk with him. It has been perhaps a year since I’ve seen him; his speech is measured, a reminder of the stroke he had awhile back, but the smile and warmth is as bright and genuine as it was when I first met him some thirty five years ago. He still stands straight and tall, with smile lines etched into his face, that same twinkle in his eye.

As we stood and talked, I couldn’t help but remember the day he called me up, concerned about the school’s choice of musical that year. “A Chorus Line” fairly dripped with the profanity and sexual innuendo that has become standard fare today. Back then, it was cutting edge, and it cut to the heart of the values and morals we both held dear. He was pastor of a neighboring church, and after reading the script that had been provided him by some students in his congregation who were in the play, felt something needed to be done. We went to the administration with our concerns, were heard, but since the performance rights had already been paid, it was too late to switch to a different show. The director did agree however, to alter some of the lyrics to make it more acceptable to our rural, conservative community.

Another pastor in our area, not content with working behind the scenes with the school administration, went to full bore attack mode in the newspapers and local radio. Before it was all over, his free advertising resulted in major network television coverage and a sellout crowd. The end result sadly turned out to be catastrophic for his congregation.


Pastor Ray McGinnis however, stood above all that, and remains a gentleman whose Christian faith and integrity is a gift of grace to all who know him. It was that grace that I saw again today as we stood and talked. At 88, he walks more slowly, but our friendship is as strong and vibrant as ever. Friends like Ray are jewels that sparkle even more because of their rarity, and are the source of deep gratitude to God for giving me the privilege of not only knowing him, but being counted among his many friends.

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