I remember meeting Michael Smith for the first time. I like always was shy and coming to a new church with my dad when I was only 11-years-old, awkward, and nerdy seemed like the end of the world. My dad brought me to the old youth room (that doesn't look the same at all by the way) and called Michael over to meet me. Michael greeted me and wanted to know everything about me all at once. I was a little overwhelmed. I mean when I say I was shy... I WAS SHY... After a little bit he showed me to my Sunday School room. What I remember most about this meeting was that he came to check up on me after Sunday School. He wanted to develop a relationship with me and wanted to get to know me for me... not for the fact that my dad was Werner Aswell.
I will never forget those almost four years that he was my youth minister. Those were some great times. And like it was said at his funeral today, he had some sayings. I am not sure if I would say they were hilarious, but they were all his. On wednesday nights when it seemed as if we were drifting away, he would bring us back with... "focus, focus" in that accent of his. He was always saying "What up player?" to everyone.
I mean I can't leave out Cross Camp! Cross Camp was so much fun and I think that I really came into my own... but this would have never happened without Michael. I'll never forget our Dauphin Island adventure and how we had to come back without even getting to do any missions. But Michael didn't see it that way. And looking back I don't either. We developed good relationships during that time. I had some good mentors during that time. And even though I don't talk to most of them now, I credit Michael with putting these people in my life to teach me what I needed to know at that time. I will never forget the strong Christian women that were discipled by Michael and Kim that helped me to grow in Christ. Christy and Misty, Cindy, DeeAnn, JoEllen, the list goes on and on...
I will never forget that my sister, Kari, had the biggest crush on Michael and called him her boyfriend. She was only 5-years-old, but Michael even drew her in. She would run up to him on Sunday mornings and give him a hug. And I will never forget one day he told her... "I hope I have a little girl like you one day." That brings tears to my eyes.
What I remember most about him, however, was his passion for the Lord. When I think about Michael I think about the disciple Peter. Peter sometimes got into trouble for speaking out of turn or not thinking about what he was saying... but he was passionate about the Lord. Michael was our modern day Peter. One of Michael's sermons that I will never forget was about the verse in Revelation about God spewing us from his mouth if we were lukewarm. Michael said God will throw you up!!! Vomit you out. That mental image has always stuck in my mind since I was in Jr High. Michael said God would rather you be cold than riding the fence. There were so many praise songs we sang about this very verse and I believe this was one of the things he really wanted us to hammer into our hearts.
I am going to make a confession. I haven't spoken to Michael in some time. I saw him not too long ago at Christmas at New Chapel Hill. And yes he was the same Michael Smith that I will always remember. And you know what... he remembered me too. I haven't been the best Christian or necessarily been doing what I should be doing since I last saw Michael Smith. But through his death and funeral I have found a new awakening for the Lord. And I know Michael wouldn't have it any other way.
