Religion: A Pastor Ponders

An Ordinary Life

by Pastor William Jenkins

February 24, 2006

While driving in East Texas one day I sped past a historical marker. Though I am sure they are interesting, I usually do not take the time to stop and read these markers. Curiosity got the best of me on this occasion and I turned back to check out this bit of history. The marker told about

MESHACK ROBERTS

“A faithful slave; came to Gilmer with his master O.E. Roberts before 1850. While Mr. Roberts was away in the Civil War, Meshack ran the farm and looked after the family. To get some money to finance farm costs he shod horses for solders and others, baked and sold ginger cakes. Was an example of sincere loyalty found over the South. At wars end Master gave him freedom, land, and material to build a home. Later moved to Marshall where he served in the Texas legislature. In 1882 he helped establish Wiley College for Negros.”

I imagined Meshack as a large man, quiet and easy mannered, who went about his chores in ordinary fashion; being no less heroic than the master who went off to war. I looked past the marker and could almost hear the ring of the hammer on the anvil and smell the aroma of freshly baked ginger cakes wafting through the oaks and across the meadows. If he was representative of the Southern slave, Meshack had a faith in God that ran deep beneath the troubled waters of life; therefore it is said of him that he was faithful…and sincerely loyal.

As I drove away I felt that my life had been touched by his. I was glad for the tribute given to Mr. Meshack Roberts and all those ordinary people of extraordinary character who live and die with only a birth announcement and an obituary to serve as the bookends of their lives. In between the ordinary Meshack Roberts spent his life extraordinarily well. So should we all.

League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street (FM 518), one block east of Interstate 45. For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the website at

HYPERLINK - http://www.lcumc.org