In 2015, actress Jennifer Garner came back to her home state of West Virginia as part of the PBS documentary series A Path Appears. The series focused on poverty, early childhood education, and community resilience. She partnered with Save the Children, visiting schools, homes, and community centers across the state — including Mason County, where we lived and served the local congregation at the time.
Her visits were not a celebrity tour. They were quiet, purposeful, and often emotionally heavy. She moved quickly between filming locations, meeting families, and coordinating with local educators.
I do not remember how many days she was in Mason County, but one afternoon a member of her crew approached me outside and asked if they could use the church building — mainly the restroom, but also a place to warm up and catch their breath. Of course, that was agreeable.

We homeschooled our children, and often we would go over to the church building and work from the “balcony” overlooking the auditorium. We heard the door open and several people walk in. Jennifer Garner was with her crew. The congregation had agreed to allow them access to the kitchen and the restroom, so they were taking a break. Hannah was around eleven years old at the time, and she was excited. Jennifer Garner was her favorite actress. So, obviously she asked if it would be okay to go downstairs and meet her. Much to her chagrin, I denied her access to the famous lady. (She still brings it up from time to time.)
Every now and then I think about that moment and wonder if it was the right decision. It is not every day that your daughter’s favorite actress walks into the building you’re in. In that sense, the occasion was lost. Hannah would have been thrilled, and Ms. Garner would probably have been cordial and kind.
On the other hand, if I were using the restroom at a church building in the middle of a small town while taking a break from filming a documentary, I would not want to be ambushed by an adoring fan — no matter how adorable and sweet said fan was. All people, including celebrities, deserve the respect owed to those made in God’s image. “Honor everyone” (1 Peter 2:17) is a simple command, but it applies in moments like these.
Truly it was one of those situations where there was no perfectly clear answer. Years later I am reminded that sometimes our decisions are not obviously right nor wrong — we simply do the best we can with the opportunities we’ve been given. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). We act with the wisdom we have, trusting God with the rest.
At the end of the day, at least the story was added to our family’s lore: “I used the same restroom as a movie star.” There is something poetic — and humbling — in that thought. And perhaps it is a small reminder that even the most unexpected moments can become part of the tapestry God is quietly weaving in our lives.