Issue No. 42 of Your Weekly Staff Meeting is a departure from our normal routine. Here’s a true story that is adapted from a column I wrote in 1996, along with an important book by Eugene Peterson.  For mini-reviews of more than 40 other books, visit my Buckets Blog at www.JohnPearsonAssociates.com.

It didn’t happen on United in first class—but on a bus.  And she wasn’t a CEO—she was a secretary.  And it wasn’t really about her—it was about Him.

After years and years of sterling secretarial faithfulness in numerous churches and at her denominational office, she had retired.  She’d cheerfully completed thousands and thousands of projects on time, with no awards, no plaques.

This faithful administrator had survived demanding deadlines without email, fax machines or FedEx. For her, “WordPerfect” meant retyping it again—and often on a mimeograph stencil.

She had selected a Christian retirement center—named after a well-known Baptist pastor.  Finally it was time to retire, rest, relax. Time to let others serve her.

No way.  This community of seniors was a ministry magnet for her spiritual gifts of administration, helps and hospitality.  Down every hallway was a “to do” list for a seasoned servant. There were projects to organize, people to encourage, the lonely to listen to.

One Thanksgiving she invited 12 residents to her tiny one-room apartment where they overwhelmed her three folding tables.  Turkey and all the trimmings turned a routine, lonely holiday into a memorable party.

So when the miracle happened, it really came as no surprise to her friends.  It was typical of her heavenly Father—quiet miracles in quiet ways. This time it happened on a bus, traveling just 75 miles for a brief overnight visit with friends.

A good planner, even in retirement, she was thinking and praying through the week ahead as the bus bounced along.  Once back home, her first priority would be to bake bread. Not for herself, but for other residents who needed encouragement.  The Lord had already given her the names for this week’s deliveries.

The ingredients for a favorite recipe had been purchased. The plan: small loaves of tasty apricot bread.  On the bus, she imagined the warm aroma of freshly baked bread—and the happy, surprised smiles of this week’s recipients.

Then abruptly, like screeching brakes, her spirits sagged.  The recipe called for a special ingredient! Orange zest! She’d forgotten to buy an orange. The loaves would not be the same without that special orange peel flavoring.  How disappointing—how disappointing for her unsuspecting friends.

Well, she would be back home the next night.  But there would be no time on Baking Day for the inconvenient round trip bus ride to the grocery store.  So her little love loaves would have to go without. No orange zest.

Not giving in to easy despair, she watched the miles go by, trying to think about other things. It didn’t help—she needed that orange.

            Then the God of Miracles boarded her bus.  From nowhere, a round object bumped her foot. As she searched the dark floor for whatever had briefly interrupted her sadness, she saw the miracle.

            An orange! The most beautiful, round, gorgeous orange she had seen in years!

            She retrieved the golden treasure for a moment and held it wishfully. But she knew, deep down, it must be returned to its owner. And so she turned around, smiling as broadly as she could.  But there was no one behind her. No passengers behind her at all.

            It was truly a miracle.  An orange from heaven. An orange just for her!

            She wasn’t a CEO. She didn’t write management books. She didn’t lecture on fundraising, marketing or strategic planning. She simply prayed and planned her week.  And she saw God provide.

            When she humbly told me this miracle story, just hours after it happened, it made my heart beat fast. Since then, I’ve thought about that orange many times.  I’ll never forget the story and hopefully, never forget the lesson.

            With lots of management years chalked up, I find it very easy to switch onto auto-pilot. Do it this way. Adjust that. Fix this. Monitor eight leading indicators. Re-engineer key programs. Keep it simple. Ask—thank—ask again. Launch trial balloons. Keep the main thing the main thing.

            When I need God’s help, I usually ask for it. But it’s usually my agenda, not His. “Lord, I’ve thought up these great ideas for you.  Now I need you to provide the funds.”
 
           That miracle orange reminds me again that our Father is the God of miracles. If I’m not experiencing those miracles from time to time in my daily life, I wonder if I’m really about my Father’s business?

Sadly, it’s been a long time since I’ve thought of myself in the apprentice role. I can’t say I’ve seen “Apprentice” listed on any business cards lately. Maybe we should all order new cards. Of course, the recent reality television series with Donald Trump did not define the kind of apprentice (or boss) that Jesus had in mind.

            We know that being an apprentice to the Master is exactly what kingdom work is all about. So why do we miss it so often? Why are our strategies and priorities so bountiful, yet our miracle stories so barren?

            Why does God orchestrate an orange festival on a bus for a retired church secretary? Wouldn’t His time be better spent at 30,000 feet—helping ministry executives enroute to their “Project 2020” meetings?

            My guess is that church secretaries, and thousands of other faithful ministry and marketplace workers, often understand more clearly what it means to be “apprenticed to the Master.” They have much to teach the rest of us who are skilled at doing ministry, but inexperienced at experiencing God.

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