In a brief conversation with the very accomplished organist at his Baptist Church, Roger learned that she was a Muslim and her mother was from Iran. Touched by her presence in their congregation, he wrote the following poem and despite his concerns about how it might be received, he gave it to her at the end of a Sunday service. The next Sunday she put his mind to rest when she turned from the organ, looked out over the congregation, located Roger, and gave him a warm smile.
Ordination Wondering
A woman,
a woman hustles
back and forth,
back and forth,
serving, weaving
in and out of our
worship.
She, in part,
rooted and nourished
by worlds
I know not,
many of us know
not.
The music,
our interactions,
are we connecting,
are we drawing
together?
My view?
Perhaps God
has ordained you,
perhaps we
have ordained you,
selected you,
placed hands on you,
to wear a collar,
to be a priest
with us,
in the work
God wants to
accomplish,
in this part of
the world,
at this time
in the world.
Roger Bruce Giffen Pittard
,
aholdingplace 