A Story About a Saint

After being away for nearly 20 years, in 2002 I moved back to my hometown (and the home I grew up in) to take care of my mother who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

For several months previous, I had been investigating the feeling that I was being called to “do more” than just attend church on Sunday.

I rejoined the Presbyterian Church in my hometown and began “reconnecting” with some of the long-time members there and becoming friends with the newer members of the congregation. Within a few months, I was ordained as a Ruling Elder and had begun taking courses through University of Dubuque Theological Seminary’s Distance Learning program with the object of becoming a Commissioned Ruling Elder.

Several folks in the congregation were very supportive and encouraging to me.

One of those was Don R.

Don had been a member of my hometown Presbyterian Church long before I was baptized there in my teens.  Even though he was much older, Don was quite engaged in whatever church activities were planned.  He also attended the intergenerational bible study before worship each week.  

I once overheard a church member describe Don as “a grumpy, opinionated old man,” but I greatly enjoyed visiting with him and learning from him.

Don had a knowledge of the Scriptures that I had never experienced before and haven’t since. You could quote a passage, any passage, Old Testament or New, and Don would tell you the chapter and the verse. If you gave him the chapter and the verse, Don would accurately give you the passage. 

I asked him once how he did that. He replied, “You have to read it. Over and over. Let it soak into your heart and your brain.”  Since his scriptural knowledge was obviously unsurpassed, I asked if he still bothered with reading the bible. He smiled broadly.  “You bet I do! Every single day!”

Don was not just a “church member,” he actually lived out his faith, with his words and with his actions.

One Sunday after worship, Don approached me and asked how my classes were going. I said, “for the most part, fine,” but I admitted I was having a bit of difficulty with parts of the Old Testament. He said he thought he might be able to help with that, and I should come by his house later that afternoon.

Don gave me a book he’d had for a number of years that explained how the Old Testament pointed to Jesus and how Jesus was the fulfillment of the OT prophecies regarding the Messiah. That book turned out to be a huge help to me in my studies! When I tried to return it, Don said, “No, you keep it. You’ll use it again.”

As I got close to finishing my courses, I got a card in the mail. The handwritten note inside encouraged me to put to good use what I’d learned and to not get discouraged when things got difficult. The writer also reminded me to “spend time in the Word every day.”

It was signed, “Your friend, Don R”

Knowing just a little more now than I did then, I smile whenever I hear someone use the term “saint.”

I know what a saint is like – I had the good fortune to learn from one!