An Unmarked Grave

   There’s an unmarked grave in the cemetery behind the immaculately maintained little church high up in the hills. Residents will tell you it is in homage to Pastor Xavier who had told them so unselfishly he would not accept anything from them even though he had single-handedly breathed new life into the once prosperous little community.

   Pastor Xavier was fulfilling an ambition to ride his powerful new motorcycle the length and breadth of the land, stopping at the smallest and most isolated of settlements on the way to inquire if they were in need of pastoral care.

   In the only village store, he had inquired about the seeming lack of life. He was told that, after the steel mill had closed down some years ago, time had all but stood still for most of the village; only a few families remained and then simply out of fear as to what would happen to their land if they left it.

   Over the years, everyone else had moved to far off places in search of work that for the most part had proved hard to find. Whatever money they could spare, which wasn’t a lot, they sent back to their families in the village.

   Pastor Xavier remarked on the few but fine looking fruits and vegetables he had seen growing behind the store. The proprietor said that was his way of supplementing his income since proceeds from the store were too little to support him and his wife. Pastor Xavier also remarked on the surprisingly beautiful clothes the proprietor’s wife was wearing and which she shyly said she had made herself, all by hand. Having noticed a poorly clad old man on the way to the store, Pastor Xavier asked if the proprietor’s wife had thought of making clothes for other people. “Why certainly,” had been the prompt reply, “but they don’t have the money to pay for them even though I was practically giving them away”.

   Since money was so tight and the needs of the people so few and modest, Pastor Xavier inquired if thought had been given to operating a simple barter system amongst the residents of the village, thus doing away with the need for money at all. He was told no such thought had been entertained, but as everyone knew each other so well, there would be no harm in at least talking about it.

   Thus encouraged, and saying he had no desire to interfere but with a specific reason for asking, Pastor Xavier inquired what people did with the few funds they received from their family members who had moved away. “We all try to save them for emergencies if we can,” was the response.

   Probing gently, Pastor Xavier said, since everyone knew everyone else so well, it might be an idea to pool their resources and use them to make micro loans for causes that would benefit the whole community such as a small kiln in which to bake bread. The surplus could be sold to residents of neighboring villages.

   The idea had quickly taken hold, the first such loan being given to the proprietor of the general store to enable him to grow fruits and vegetables in greater abundance. It was in tribute to Pastor Xavier that the little community had decided to plant the various seeds all around the church where normally one might expect to see flowers. The second micro loan went to the store proprietor’s wife to enable her to buy a sewing machine with which to make clothes.

   The proceeds from these small but additional income sources meant that the loans could be repaid and new ones granted. Before long, the little community grew financially stronger and more influential in its dealings with its neighbors, so much so that the ability to grant micro loans resulted in a commendable degree of self-sufficiency. A really added blessing was that one or two people had returned to work in the community, thus strengthening it still further.

   Reminiscent of Harvest Festival, Pastor Xavier had suggested that a Service of Thanksgiving be held in the little church. Village folk came from far and wide, as much to thank Pastor Xavier for the wonderful influence he had had on their lives, as to offer thanks to Almighty God for His unfailing provision in all things.

   Pastor Xavier had taken as his text from the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in which Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, had exhorted his audience always to be joyful, to pray constantly, and to give thanks no matter what the circumstances because this is God’s will for His people in Christ Jesus.

   The message was most gladly received and the celebrations that followed were as joyful as could be imagined. If there was a twinge of sadness it was because Pastor Xavier had let it be known that he would be moving on in the morning. He said he felt the pastoral care he had tried to bestow upon the now growing community was bearing fruit, almost literally: it was therefore time for him to seek out other sheep in need of a shepherd.

   The people of the village and their neighbors gave Pastor Xavier a wonderful sendoff before he roared off down the road on his motorcycle. Tragically, before he had gone very far, he struck a deer that suddenly sprang into the road in front of him. He died instantly.

   It wasn’t easy for the people to remain joyful following Pastor Xavier’s death, especially when they recalled his saying so unselfishly he would not accept anything from them. However, through constant prayer they were able to offer up expressions of heartfelt thanksgiving for all that he had done for them, as well as for the ongoing legacy he had left behind and which they knew with certainty would reap a rich harvest in the years to come.

   And that is why there’s an unmarked grave in the cemetery behind the immaculately maintained little church high up in the hills.

For further reading: 2 Kings 5:16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Corinthians 3:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; Acts 20:35; Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:13, 22; 8:15; 1 Timothy 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:18