A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1 (NKJV)
It’s a first Sunday when I usually like to post some sort of devotional, but every idea that came to mind seemed to be something I might have already posted on some other first Sunday. So, when I happened on this graphic about Preacher Rowlett from my book, Along a Storied Trail, I remembered how he never lacked for a story to tell, and the ones he loved best to tell were out of the Bible. So I’m sharing about the Preacher tonight. Hope you enjoy getting to know him if you haven’t read the story and being re-acquainted with him if you have.
Preacher Rowlett was a short man, not much taller than Tansy, and appeared to have never gone without food. He had an ample waistline and a plump face that showed only smile wrinkles.
Preacher Rowlett had a voice that took over a place when he was talking. Folks never had to worry about not hearing his stories.
When a city writer came to town to pester some folks about mountain stories, some of those folks weren’t so sure about talking to a flatlander. But the writer wasn’t likely to get off on the wrong foot with Preacher Rowlett. Hardly anybody ever had a harsh word to say about Preacher. Except Aunt Perdie. But then Aunt Perdie had harsh words about everybody. That was just her way. If that writer tried to talk to her, he’d have a chore getting a welcome at her door.
Preacher Rowlett never married people. He said he could pray over them when they were sick, point them at the right Scriptures to help them through troubling times, and speak words at a burying, but he wasn’t fit to join two people in matrimony. He claimed he’d never actually felt a calling to preach. Other folks saying he had a calling didn’t matter. That had to come from the Lord, and so far the Lord hadn’t called him
Could be Aunt Perdie wasn’t as crosswise with Preacher Rowlett as folks thought. Came a time she was ready to hear some of the man’s talking.
“I do like a story that has a fine ending,” Perdita told Preacher. “Why don’t you tell me one from the Bible that does?” She guessed he was in a talking mood and she was ready to listen.
“There’s the story about Ruth. You ought to like it, with Ruth claiming Naomi for her mother and finding a good husband in Boaz.”
She rocked and listened as he made the old story she’d read who knew how many times come to life again. The wood in her hand that she was whittling began to speak to her. Without a doubt it was going to be a twist of entwined love.
Sometimes whether a man has a calling to stand in a pulpit, he can still preach by the way he lives his daily life.
Have you ever known a person who preached by the way he or she lived?
Comments 8
No I’m sorry to say, I have not. I guess until the good Lord calls me home, I still have a chance.
Author
I hope some good men and women cross your path who live their faith and make the world around them better. That is something we can all aspire to do, Pamela.
It’s so much better to know someone who preaches by the way he/she lives than to know someone who consistently fails to live by the way he/she preaches!
Thank you for sharing that sweet excerpt from “Along a Storied Trail”!
Author
Glad you enjoyed reading about Preacher Rowlett, Roberta. And yes indeed, it is good to know those people who live in such a way that they show their kindness and love to their family and friends and to everyone they meet.
That saying about doing as I say not as I do doesn’t convince very many people.
I had an “Uncle Will”, by dad’s brother. He was a big man, huge hands, you would notice this while shaking hands with him. He was a farmer, but also a preacher. I can’t remember hearing him preach, but I think he would have been one of those types of preachers.
Author
Sounds as if, even though you didn’t hear your Uncle Will preach, he made a good impression on you, Connie. I think it’s good to remember those good people in our lives and appreciate their Christian character.
Yes I sure have and what a privilege! What a beauty among ashes they are. I love how you weave those kind hearts into your stories in such a beautiful way.
Author
I like the way you word that, Amy. A beauty among ashes. I do like having a wise aunt or granny or uncle or someone in my books as a secondary character that adds to my stories. Granny Em was the one in These Healing Hills along with the memories Fran had about her grandmother. Aunt Hattie was a best character in my Rosey Corner books. Aunt Love was a little more contrary and gave Jocie a hard time in the Hollyhill booksm but I had Wes who definitely helped Jocie think about things in the right way. Aunt Lindy was great at keeping everybody thinking straight in the Hidden Springs mysteries. Of course, there was Louis who “prayed believing” in River to Redemption. I’m sure I could poke around in my writing memory and come up with more.