I was given several books for Christmas – including ‘A Burning in my Bones’ – Winn Collier’s biography of Eugene Peterson.
Eugene recalls early memories, working in his dad’s butcher’s shop: ‘The people who came into our shop were not just customers. Something else defined them. It always seemed more like a congregation than a store.’
‘His father treated each person with kindness… Don Peterson welcomed all his customers as they were… He treated each person with dignity… whether an elder from the Methodist church or one of the women from the brothel a couple of blocks away… Eugene later viewed his work as priestly work…’
I’ve had a similar conversation with my Christian friend Andy who runs a garage. Whether his customers bring an expensive top-of-the-range model or a clapped out old banger, the way he serves them is a reflection of his faith.
Our minister Lou often refers to times spent as a nurse in the hospital’s accident and emergency department, of the characters who arrive on a Saturday night… of her role in dealing with the less pleasant aspects of the sick and needy.
When I was teaching the children came to our school from all parts of the community with a wide variety of needs and expectations. Our staff were pretty varied too. The school community was where I served. Perhaps I was a priest.
Yesterday a package arrived. It was too late for Christmas, but we were pleased that it arrived. The instructions on the box were: ‘Please handle me gently, deliver me safely, open me carefully.’
Perhaps this could be a three point Christmas sermon on the Christ-child… or pointers to New Year’s Resolutions…
Musing…
…Eugene, Andy, Lou, me… Customers to be respected and served… patients to be treated and cared for… learners to be taught and supported… what good people do and how they do it.
…Shop, garage, hospital, school… different pictures of church, different Christian roles, serving as a priest in ordinary daily life…
…Working, serving, living… gently, safely, carefully.
malcolmsmusings.org 
I just bought the Peterson biography. Thanks, Bro. Happy New Year!
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I haven’t finished it yet, Mark, but as I’m reading it my respect for the man is growing. He has a lot to teacxh us still.
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I like where you went with this, Malcolm. Every Christian can be a priest for God in their chosen profession. The Lord needs Christian mechanics, teachers, lorry drivers, and lawyers.
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My understanding of my/our role and responsibility as a priest has grown in recent years, David… as has its importance
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I agree wholeheartedly-treat all who you encounter with the utmost respect. This time of year cashiers and store clerks need customers to be extra patient and considerate because the demands on them are excessive. 🙂
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Thanks for highlighting that, Nancy. It is so important
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“…serving as a priest in ordinary daily life…” Sometime I must share fully with you how Father made this truth abundantly clear to me in my own life. For now, I’ll just say for many years I thought I had to be on staff at a church in order to be in “full-time ministry.” Quite the contrary. Those who are living daily in His Way are the true full-time ministers. Thank you for this, Malcolm. And I will look for this biography of Eugene Peterson! ~Ed.
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Thanks, Ed. My experience is that it’s not just ordinary folks that think that. Some church staff think that to be a priest you have to ‘be in ministry’. I’ve seen many good folks working out their priestly work in offices, hospitals and gymnasiums faithfully working out their priestly role – God given, God enabled, God serving.
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