The Warden

Recently, I, as well as other teachers in our area, were given the opportunity to visit places of employment for an in-service day.  I chose a USP (United States Penitentiary) in our area.

We were scheduled to take part in a tour of the prison that houses over a thousand inmates.

We discovered when we arrived that the tour would not occur, after all, because there had been violent episodes a few days prior, and the prison was on lock down.

I said all of that to really say this:  Instead, we were escorted to a conference room where three USP employees planned to introduce themselves to us, explain the dynamics of a prison system, daily life, employment opportunities, etc.

The teachers hadn't been in the conference room but for a few minutes when the first USP employee began introducing himself and his role at USP.  As he did, a man walked into the room; immediately, another USP employee saw the man, and she interrupted the speaker mid-sentence.

She said, "The Warden is here."

The way she said it was unmistakably understood. Somebody just entered the room.  SOMEBODY just entered the room.  Everybody else take a seat because SOMEBODY --the leader, the boss, the rule maker, the rule enforcer-- just entered the room.

The speaker didn't even finish his sentence.  The floor belonged to the Warden.  The other speakers very obviously stepped back as the Warden began speaking and were attentively engaged.  This moment was one of the best examples of respect I have ever observed by man.

One day, every knee shall bow.

This may sound silly, but for me, the moment was remarkable not because of the man or his job title but because I couldn't help but liken it to what everyone should do when the LORD enters the room.  

How often do we stop mid-sentence when The Lord has something better to say?
How often do we truly reverence the Spirit Of God when He enters our realm?
How often are we willing to lay down our dialogue as we converse with others when the LORD stops us mid-sentence?
How often do we listen attentively when The Lord is speaking?
How often do we allow our egos to take a seat because The Lord has a better plan?
How often do we heed the signs when it is time for God to speak and time for us to be silent?

We better know that although the warden held the keys to a man-made prison; the Lord Jesus Christ holds the keys to hell and death.

May we be found faithful to HIM and know that The Lord  is the SOMEBODY who

• always has something better to say,
• always deserves our reverential respect,
• always supersedes our thoughts, and
• always deserves our undivided attention.

Amen!