For the many precious friends who fulfill the category of "minister"

[Kit Sober]

With many thanks to the many precious friends who fulfill the category of "minister" in the world today, officially and unofficially:

Somewhere between the call of God and the hallways of the local hospital there exists a specialist in everything, variously called a "minister, preacher, pastor or clergyman."

He's a hero to his wife, a stranger to his children, a good son to his mother, an 'easy touch' to down-and-outers, a name on the mailing list of hundreds of agencies and organizations, an example to his flock. ...

To some people he's a fun guy; To others he's a stuffed shirt. To some he's a character who's never lived it up. To some he's 'Reverend,' To some he's a guy who has nothing else to do but get ready for a twenty minute sermon once a week. To some he's the person in whose presence you shouldn't curse, drink, or smoke.

To others he's a dear friend, a 'johnny-on-the spot' when death's angel hovers near. He's the one whose ministry continues when a loved one dies. He's the man who can mend marriages but who can't find time to fix his wife's toaster. He's the nice man at church who pats the babies' heads even though he's not running for a political office.

He's the one who marries young lovers, prays with the sick, and buries the dead. He's a financial expert, a public orator, janitor, errand boy, typist, file clerk, writer, public relations expert, professional tea-sipper and punch-drinker, journalist, reformer, evangelist, pastor, business executive, counselor, prophet, bookworm, diplomat, human being, planner, teetotaler, and usually a terrible golfer!

Ministers are found everywhere: preaching in church, listening in meetings, teaching a class, looking at a clock, not looking at a clock, giving invocations, giving benedictions, waiting in maternity wards, sympathizing beside caskets, standing behind pulpits, pleading causes, serving on committees, studying the Bible, playing football with the kids on the vacant lot near the church, staying with someone as they take their final breath, sitting behind a desk, lying underneath a car, standing on the roof of buildings under construction, meditating, dreaming, at home at dinner time, not at home at dinner time, standing before women's groups, delivering addresses, meeting in conventions, diagnosing the world's sickness and prescribing the cure -- Jesus.

There are so many many kindhearted people here, to whom I owe the deepest thanks for your kindness. Thanks so very much.