Deuteronomy 30-34, Psalm 52, 53
My first mentor in ministry died last Thursday. His name was Royce Riley. Royce was the pastor of my "home" congregation back in the early 1980's. He was kind and generous of spirit. He had a calm presence about him and was easy to talk with. And he was always ready to listen. Royce brought me through some of the darkest days of my early ministry and I will be forever grateful to him.
Royce's strong leadership guided me through my seminary internship. He was patient when I was impatient. Generous with his time when I was careworn and always grace-filled when I made a mistake. I'm sorry he has gone. When I read Moses farewell today, I thought of Royce Riley. I thought of all the people who mentor us through life. I thought of how the best ones share their experience, their wisdom and their strength in a way that is neither overbearing or egotistical. Royce was such a person.
Perhaps Moses was the same kind of mentor for Joshua. As Joshua listened to these last speeches of Moses, I wonder what he was thinking. I wonder if Joshua had that same sense of a mentor's passing. I wonder if he missed his wisdom, his guidance. Unfortunately, we'll never know. The text doesn't give us any understanding of their relationship. We only know that in the end Moses had laid his hands upon Joshua and in response the people obeyed Joshua. Moses had reserved his greatest blessing for Joshua, the blessing of Joshua's leadership.
The greatest epitaph Moses could have to his life is contained in the final verses of the last chapter of Deuteronomy. "And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended." This long period of mourning was a sign of their great respect and honor for their prophet and leader. None could compare. " And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." Joshua would have far to go to fill Moses "sandals." And I know I will have far to go to fill Royce's.
Good post. Came at it cold, without the reading.
Posted by: John | November 11, 2009 at 10:03 PM