Last Saturday was an amazing day at the Chapel as we celebrated Charla’s ordination to be a pastor here at Snowmass Chapel.  It has been a long journey for her that demanded tons of work, much prayer, learning about herself, and deepening her relationship with Jesus.  That said, her ordination reminds me of something else important for all of us to consider.

A number of years ago, long before I was in ministry, I was stuck in a huge traffic jam.  One of the kinds that makes you want to get out of your car and simply walk away.  This was not an Aspen traffic jam, rather this was an LA rush hour scene.  Something that would make the bridge project in Glenwood Springs look like a bike path in comparison.

Anyway, as cars were merging from 10 lanes to 3, a few folks were kinder about letting others in than some people.  I’ll never forget this one guy, he was a real piece of work.  I could see him in my rear view mirror cutting people off and pushing his way through traffic.  Finally he got next to me.

He blasted his horn in a language that means, “hey buddy, I am cutting in front of you, this is my road.” I looked at him with dismay.  As I did, I began pointing to my neck with my index finger. The reason? While I was a lay person with a t-shirt on, the fellow was clearly a clergyman wearing his collar.

What was interesting was that as I was pointing to my own neck, in the the hopes he might remember his collar, he appeared to realize something.  He stopped honking.  Put his head in his hands.  And let a bunch of cars go ahead of him.

I need to be clear that my intent was not to be holier than thou, nor to create shame, but rather to try and bring some levity into the whole situation as everyone on the road needed some perspective, including me.  Nor is this story is not about me pointing out the erring ways of a clergyman, as goodness knows I’ve been off base often.  Rather it speaks to something far more important.

And that is, if we follow Jesus, like it or not, we all wear a collar. Everyone one of us has been given gifts by God to serve God and God’s people.  Said another way, all of us are all called to some kind of ministry.

For some it is ordained ministry. Others are called to serve God through music, helping with worship, Stephen Ministry, teaching, working with teens, and the list goes on and on and on.  All of us, whether ordained or not, are servants of God wherever we find ourselves (e.g., on the road, at work, at a store, on a busy trail, etc.).

My hope is that Charla’s ordination will remind each of us that we too are called to serve God in difference-making ways.  I pray to that we will look at Charla’s call to ministry as pastor as the opportunity for each of us to re-up our own commitment to serving Jesus wherever we find ourselves.