Professor. Pastor. Pilgrim
My name is Wally Metts, and I am the daysman.
It’s an old English word for an advocate, literally one who stands with you in your day. The word appears in Job (KJV) 9:32-34. The sense in which I understand it, and use it, is as someone who helps others say what they need to say.
As a consultant, teacher, and journalist, this is what my life is about. As a journalist, I try to understand my sources and to represent them fairly and faithfully to others. As a consultant, I try to understand my clients and help them articulate their mission and goals more clearly. As a writing teacher, my role is to help my students find their voice and to be good stewards of their gifts in the service of others.
You can read my resumé here. If you want to read my heart, stay where you are. These essays explore matters of faith, family and culture from a pilgrim’s perspective (Hebrews 11). I’m trying to be biblically faithful and culturally thoughtful.
Because motives matter.
the daysman 
Wally,
I wanted to say thank you for the invitation to come to Countryside, I’m guessing you were the main engine in making that happen, I appreciate it. The folks there were great, I really enjoyed the people there, and the young people of your Church are exceptional, great hearts and inquisitive minds! If I ever make it back I’d love to do the rest of the Gospel for you. Thanks again, and God’s joy!
Hunter
Sailor,
I saw Joy and Gary at the beach this weekend. They said you Mom was not doing well and that you had a blog. I looked it up and printed a copy for Mother to read. We are would lik to know how she is doing now and how you, Katie and Toy are doing. I will be at the beach with Mother at 5:00pm.
(couldn’t figure out how else to reach you)
Love you all,
Sherrye
Wally,
I have been reading for a while now. Thanks for including me in your linked email posts. I find your comments and reflections both comforting and troubling at the same time. Let me explain.
While all of us have had to deal with death… physical death, if we have lived on this earth for a while, not all of us deal with it in a way pronounced by you in your blog.
Your blog posts have helped me to reflect more on relatives of mine that have passed and gone to be with the Lord… friends and acquaintances too. While all have been different, like all of us are different, there is a similarity to their passing that is both sad and joyous like what you are currently experiencing with your mother. We all have known funerals too of those deceased that made us question their eternal future. For me, that is the troubling part.
The comfort that I have gained, and that you are now experiencing with your cherished mother, is knowing that a life committed to Christ and lived out as an example to others is the most rewarding thing that one could ever hope for in this lifetime. I have been blessed and fortunate to have role models that have gone before me that make me realize that this is true, not correct, not close to the mark, not even befitting or respectable, but “true” as in “truth”.
You see, that is the comforting part. The troubling part is to know that not all of us, as families, experience the peace and joy that you must be experiencing right now. Here is a piece that I pulled from http://www.hutchcraft.com that speaks better perhaps than what I am trying to express here.
“Listen to what the resurrection of Jesus has done, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15, beginning with verse 54. “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? … Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I love what one of my friends often says: “If non-Christians want to know what belonging to Jesus is really all about, let them come to our funerals.” Well, it’s there – the beacon from Easter morning shines the brightest when everything from earth has no answers. It is there, at our moments of greatest loss, that we win because Jesus wins.”
My prayer for you right now, your wife, your boys, others in your family, and those that are close to you is that God will be present daily in your thoughts and actions as you go through this passage. Peace be with you, my man!
Your friend,
Curt
Dear Wally,
Please know that my heart is holding all of you close. I so loved your mother…she was one of the most influential people in my life and truly one of my heroes. I remember just being a young newlywed when she and your father entered our lives. I was newly saved, newly married, and for the first time in my life away from my family and all that I had ever known. Your mother loved me. I needed that.
She was there when our first child arrived, and the second, and the third, and the fourth, and the fifth.
Your father dedicated each one to the Lord at the front of Calvary Baptist Church. Down the road, he would then baptize each one. Your mother cheered and clapped. She loved me. I needed that.
Our children grew, our lives were busy. She prayed for them, she loved them. She encouraged me. She believed in me. She brought me unusual gifts like dimmer switches, brooms, and hammers. She always knew just what a woman needed. She just kept loving me and I needed that.
Four years ago while in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, in a place called Caananland, I believe God placed on my heart a desire to try to give back just a little to a woman who had given me so much. Nancy Corbett shared a Bible study with me which I would then take back to Englewood and share with your dear mother.
What I thought would be a blessing from me to her became one of the sweetest blessings I have ever received. We began in July a study called “My God Wants Me To Know”. Everything in my world seemed to fade when Sunday evenings rolled around and I sat by your mother’s side and read the Word of God to her. She would seem to just bask in the words from her Father in heaven and so many times would finish the lines before I read them. Often she would ask me to repeat verses over and over again. We talked about God and faith and family and life. We laughed and cried and the prayers… oh the prayers! They were the most precious part to me. We always took turns. She would squeeze my hand tight and I knew that all heaven had stopped to listen to Joan Metts and her abundant praises and requests. We decided that we must be Bapticostal. We could feel the power of God in our midsts. After we finished the first study, she decided we should start all over again and we did. Just when we needed something new, a package came from Caananland. Nancy had been cleaning out her files and found a notebook filled with treasures for us. We began the study “When feelings try to take over…think on these things.” God showed us His wisdom and His love and we needed that.
When my father became sick, and the care for him increased, she told me to be with him. Our Sundays together became few and far between. When I would call to see if she was up for a Bible study, her words were always the same. “Hurry up!!”
I cherished those times and became so aware of the amazing gift I was receiving.
At one point we decided we would write a book, but of course the pages of my journal have only a few entries. We were always too busy reading and praying. If ever a book was written, she decided it should start with:
“All stories need to have a mother and I had one once…..”
I thought I would share a few other words from your mother that I found in the journal.
“It is a lifetime job to love the world. When I said I love him, that’s what he wanted me to do. And I think we ought to diligently pray for each other. I’m deep in prayer. It is a part of our life.”
“My son Sailor….I wanted to name him something that had to do with the sea. I didn’t want to name him Crab or Shrimp or Mullet.”
“My advice to the high school graduate is cut your hair and get a trade!”
“I wanted to be a singer.”
The last time I spoke to your mother, she was dying in your home in Michigan. We weren’t done with our Bible study I thought. There was so much more to do.
I am so thankful for every moment that I had with her. In honor of her, I will strive to love the world each day and encourage the weak and lonely. I will try to take time to just stop, and do something crazy like drive for hours to get strawberry shortcake or the best mangoes in Florida..or maybe another trip to the Keys to catch sharks and eat lobster. I will look into the eyes of those around me and say I love you more. When your mom said I love you, she meant it. I am so thankful she loved me. If she only knew how much I needed that.
May God put his loving arms around you and all the family. Your love and care for your mother has been an incredible testimony to our family. Please know we are always here if ever we can do anything for any of you.
Anne
Hi Wally,
THANK YOU so very much for writing about your Mom’s last days. It is so touching. I felt so disconnected while she was there but knew it was God’s will. Thank you for sharing her with us. My life has been so much richer because of her and your Father. They came to Calvary full time when I was 13. I have SOOOO many incredible memories. Pastor Mett’s baptised me, Mrs. Metts was my Sunday School teacher, Pastor married my husband and I and they both were ALWAYS there when I needed them. I had surgery when I was 15. My surgery went almost 8 hours long and they NEVER LEFT my parents. They were just ALWAYS there! I love them and miss them both so much along with my parents. I am sure they are in Heaven catching up. It makes HEaven a little sweeter knowing they are waiting for us when we get there. God bless you. I love you guys!
Uncle Wally,
I started reading your blog after I came home from being in the smallest town I’ve ever known. It was in Michigan called Horton, with you and my favorite Michigan family. I was hoping you would be posting the flavor of the week and how many trackers were left. But I still haven’t seen that up.
After I read the first blog about how Honey was doing your work brought me to tears. And it still does evertime you refer to how aweseome her and grandpa were.
I jus wanted to leave you a comment telling you that I think you are amazing and your writing is aswell! I can’t wait to see you soon.
love always
your favorite niece
Krista.
“Because motives matter”
As I examine what our church is doing in reestablishing a vision and what is happening in Chicago Christianity, I am convinced more and more – methods matter.
I certainly agree.
But since I see things from a communication perspective, I think (and write) about the Ephesians passage a lot, that we are to speak the truth in love.
Methods, from my view, are also a way of speaking. They say a great deal about our motives and our goals and our desires.
[…] daysman because motives matter Skip to content Homewho is the daysman? ← and the band played on. […]
“I’m trying to be biblically faithful and culturally thoughtful.” A masterfully poignant expression of heart and intent. It eloquently expresses my heart as well. I hope that I, too, through my writing and my living remain pure to this intent.
Shayna-
Thanks for stopping by.
I looked at your blog, and as a southerner (Florida/Tennessee most of my life), I appreciate the journey you are sharing as well.
Clearly we on the same track in many ways.
Congratulations on Freshly Pressed. I enjoyed reading the last dozen or so posts and look forward to being a regular reader. Your words to your son touched me.
I’d like to echo Shayna. I’m not certain I’ve ever found myself moved by someone’s “About Me” page before.
Absolutely great. I hope people are able to appreciate my writing even a fraction as much as they do yours.
[…] daysman Skip to content Homewho is the daysman? ← i’m not buying it February 10, 2011 · 9:54 am ↓ Jump […]
Now, given the introduction, THIS is a perspective I want to hear from. I enjoy your blog.
I would like to humbly submit that Jesus Christ is The Daysman as stated in 1Ti_2:5: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
I wonder if you might better be known as “a daysman”. No offense intended, just to glorify Christ.
Thanks for stopping by, and for the gracious spirit of your concern.
As a follower of Christ, I have no desire to diminish his glory, or overstate my role. As Paul points out, we are all unworthy servants.
Much can be said about an article. The distinction between “a” and “the” is an important one. But I don’t think I have crossed a line here.
If I say I am going the coffee shop, my wife would probably know which one. In this sense, when I tell someone’s story for them professionally I am the daysman to them regarding that story.
Notice that I don’t capitalize it. I’m not confused about being the Daysman in any overarching sense. It is a professional moniker for being the daysman for my clients and the subjects of my stories.
Thanks again for sharing your concern.
Wally:
You are most welcome! It’s my pleasure to read your articles! Your writing is in the style that let’s me In the Know about things I can’t keep up with (even for my age!) with insightful opinions&faith. I can’t stop reading once I start! You, sir, are a true daysman. (:
I nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award (which is really just a blog chain letter, but it’s fun) – for more information visit – http://lisafatgirlrunning.com/2012/08/03/a-burn-a-pound-and-a-blog-award/