A Blessed Life (28)
Settled at last. Our move to Mercer County and the call to Ebenezer marked the end of continuous moving and searching for stability. Ebenezer is a biblical word. I Samuel 7:12 says, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” Ebenezer literally means Stone of Help; help we needed, and help we received. A home was graciously provided by a family in the church at no cost. We were living in the heart of the community and finding acceptance in the hearts of the people.
Not only did God provide for the call to the church, but also the sense of calling to the greater Mercer County community. I soon began driving a school bus, and also substitute teaching in the school system. I farmed with our neighbors, and even continued selling insurance part time. I raised two tobacco crops with the help of some of those good neighbors. Colleen once noted that I had five jobs, one for each child.
Perhaps I was a bit too busy. That fact was brought to light in a humorous way when I was being honored and roasted after several years of ministry. It was Brian, and his comments went something like the following. “Dad was quite busy, and he was gone most of my first few years. When school started, the bus stopped in front of our house. The bus door opened and when I got on the bus, I asked the gentleman if he was our new bus driver. The man replied, No I’m your daddy.”
Those years at Ebenezer were indeed like a stone of help. We were putting down roots. It was the right fit, for I was a country boy living in the country, and preaching in a country church. Even though God’s plan for my calling to Mercer County had not fully unfolded, I was content and blessed with that phase of my life. I firmly believe that God’s plan for our life journey takes us on a path that must be traveled one step at a time.
– Terry A. Morrison