Calvin Miller
David C Cook, 256 pp., $14.99
There was this old guy in my church named Bud. Good man. Good sense of humor. Not afraid to raise his hand during a sermon, always spoke his mind at congregational meetings, and seldom went with the crowd unless the crowd was going somewhere interesting. He’d sit in the back row on the end, closest to the window. In the summers when we opened the windows, he would get the breeze; in winter, he would get the sunshine. “Best seat in the house,” he said. From this seat, he had watched children grow from littlest angel in the pageant to college graduate accepting the traditional grad-gift given by the congregation. He had a quiet way about him. He could listen to all the differing opinions in a meeting then speak for five minutes and people would think, “Oh. Why didn’t we think of that?”
If you are reading that last paragraph and think, “My church has one of those.” It’s because every church has one of those. What if we could get one of those sages in the back row to write a letter to the new guy, the new pastor, youth worker, the fresh young graduate who is ready to conquer the world, but doesn’t yet know enough to keep her mouth shut and her head down when necessary. Letters to a Young Pastor is that book.
It is not a book specifically for youth pastors, but that does come into play. This is collection of wisdom offering the benefit of years of experience from that spot in the back row. Calvin Miller has written many books for adults and children, but this one is similar to a chat over a cup of coffee.
I have been a working with youth in a variety of churches for 25 years. I’m not a young pastor anymore; but as I read Letters this morning, several spoke directly to me. Specifically, “Come and Let Us Make the World Rounder” and “Image vs. Vision.” We always have things to learn. We all need someone with experience to help us. There is a difference between getting directions from Google and taking the trip with someone who already has been there in the passenger seat.
If you go into an associate pastor’s office and remove the committee-approved painting from the wall, you’ll see the dent where well-meaning, loving people of God have spent time banging their heads against it when they think no one can hear. Miller’s Letters at once calm and encourage.
