Preacher

A guest preacher from another denomination came one Sunday accompanied by a woman, her Armor Bearer. The Armor Bearer took charge, asked questions: “Where do we sit until the sermon? Is there a glass of water at the pulpit? Can the microphone be adjusted?” The guest preacher sat in silence, eyes closed, a prayer on her lips, making ready for the difficult work of preaching as others gave themselves over to the preparations. I admired that preacher’s sermon that Sunday … and admire all the more the priests I’ve known who have no Armor Bearer to help them on Sunday mornings.