When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” - John 21:15-16

At the beginning of July, I got a text from another pastor. “Hey, I’m in charge of planning worship for the WELCA Triennial, and I am looking to borrow communionware and baptismal fonts so I can fill the space for Thursday’s opening worship.” Women of the ELCA is an independent organization that’s existed in one form or another for over 150 years as Lutheran women have gathered for mission. Today, it offers education, gatherings, service, advocacy, and more for congregational, synodical, and denomination-wide groups. The national gathering, which happens every three years, was in Des Moines last Thursday through Saturday. 

I replied to my colleague, “Yes, we can help. Our font is very portable, but fragile– so as long as you can keep the glass bowl in good shape, we’re good.” Early last week, I packed up some communion chalices and patens (that’s church talk for cups and plates) and helped get the font carefully into my colleague’s SUV. With my part of the lending process complete, I didn’t really think about it again.

Then, on Thursday afternoon, the opening worship service was open to area pastors to join. I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to attend, even knowing that RLC’s communionware and font would be there, because I couldn’t quite make up my mind whether it would be worth the drive, the parking, the time. I mean, I love worship and especially the unique opportunity to gather with a thousand other Lutheran women, including the invitation to pastors and deacons to process at the beginning of the service, but even so– parking at the Iowa Event Center? I dithered.

I dithered until someone directly invited me. “We really want to showcase how many clergywomen are serving in the area. You should come.” Well, that was that. Yes, I would be there. When I got into the convention hall that had been transformed for worship, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and see the evidence of the hard work my colleague and other volunteers had dedicated to planning and executing the vision. My colleague pointed: “Recognize that font?”

Up on the stage, at the very front of the hall, right next to the table for communion, was a simple wooden stand with a beautiful purple glass bowl. I’ve seen it every week for five and a half years. Yes, I recognized that font. Suddenly, I was so glad I had said yes to my colleague’s request to lend our things for the Triennial. I could have said no. She told me later that everyone else she asked did say no. Since I said yes, our font got to be the font that was in all the photos, including one of Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry leading a thanksgiving for Baptism at closing worship on Sunday morning.

When I said yes to my colleague’s request, I did not know I was saying yes to RLC’s font being in a place of prominence for a national gathering of more than a thousand people. When I said yes to the invitation to attend opening worship on Thursday afternoon, I did not know I was saying yes to a service full of music and prayer and preaching that would overflow my heart with joy.

How often we do not know what we are saying yes to when we say yes to one another or to God! Peter said yes to Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” and had no idea what ups or downs would follow his “Yes.” Nevertheless, Peter trusted Jesus and said yes. I trusted my colleague and wanted to be helpful; I said yes. I was touched by the direct invitation to attend opening worship; I said yes. When the questions come from those we know and trust, from faithful friends or our faith-giving God, I wonder what would happen if we said “yes” more often. God is in the business of making our “yes”es into something greater than we can imagine when we say them.

Who knows? Maybe your next yes will end up somewhere as unexpected as RLC’s baptismal font on stage with the presiding bishop. With God, all things are possible.