Instructions are often given and received on the run. I remember times, perennially at summer’s end it seems. In the absence of our youthful charges, we in leadership shed our various areas of expertise, never good at saying goodbye.

It had been the usual boisterous two weeks on the Maine coast, longer than most conferences of its kind. This year had been my first as dean, or director, armed with all manner of well-wishes and well-meaning advice, including time-honored traditions. Now, it was time for many farewells.

Many of us, Easterners, only got to meet this once per year. For all I knew, it was my only chance to spend some time with anyone of our team of two dozen. Many issues had arisen in our time, more than could be addressed or even acknowledged. We were a high-energy group; there was plenty to keep in touch about, or to forget. It seemed I was always hearing about my colleagues during our time apart.

In the midst of all, this year especially, was Ken. Of all of us achievers, he was soon to excel. One of his gifts was in the media. He lived his life behind the camera but was also in demand out in front. Wherever, he tapped a spiritual hunger for telling stories of faith. Many new, unheard-of ways beckoned, even for the old, old story. He would eventually use his media gift to make inspirational films widely available to churches, He’d already made a full-length production, still compelling decades later. Pat Boone, of all people, became one of his leading men.

But for this night in this place he saw that, well, here was this colleague – me – unprepared, who might need a sermon in two short days, in a little church back home. Looking back, I now realize that he dropped everything and basically gave me some instructions. I, who didn’t know enough to ask or say “please.” I would miss him, how much I did not realize, even as I do today.

The moment, including Scripture reference and theme, is still etched on this forgetful brain of mine. It was just as much about what he didn’t say. He didn’t tell me what to say or how to say it, but I came away from that seaside campfire changed. I packed his wordless instructions and headed back to the city.

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