November 17, 2009

Number 46

VIEWPOINT

Tommy was facing surgery for the first time.  The fear of the unknown had him in its grip.  The boy was terrified.  After a visit from his minister, he seemed completely relaxed and free from anxiety, much to the relief of his physician.

Following the operation, the doctor met the minister and asked, “What did you say to Tommy to change his attitude and calm his fears so quickly?”

The minister answered:  “I reminded Tommy that he had always gone to church and to Sunday school, and surely he remembered a great deal of what he learned there.  I asked him if he remembered the Twenty-third Psalm.  He was insulted; of course he knew it. Then I told him to count off on the fingers of his left hand, beginning with the thumb, ‘The Lord;’ next, the index finger ‘is;’ then the two middle fingers, ‘my shepherd.’”

“That,” replied the doctor, “clears up the mystery as to why he held the middle fingers of his left hand.  He did this all the way up to the operating room.  Again he took hold of them as he was coming out of the anesthetic.”

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Noah was standing at the gangplank checking off the pairs of animals when he saw three camels trying to get on board. “Wait a minute!” he said. “Two each is the limit.  One of you will have to stay behind.”

“It won’t be me,” said the first camel.    “I’m the camel whose back is broken by the last straw.”

“I’m the one people swallow while straining out a gnat,” said the second.

“And I am the one that shall pass through the eye of a needle sooner than a rich man shall enter heaven.” said the third.

“Well, I guess you had better all come in,” said Noah, “the world is going to need all of you.”

I look forward to seeing you soon with a Bible, a smile and a positive word!   RA

It Cannot Be Bought

There is something unique about the fourth Thursday in November. We all love Christmas, but its commercialism “gone to seed” leaves us feeling jaded at times. Our children still have Halloween candy in their mouths when the store windows and TV ads begin the Santa Shakedown.

Thanksgiving has somehow escaped almost unscathed. The florists may do a little extra business.  And there are greeting cards for Thanksgiving.  But the focus of the day is still generations gathered at a table.  The traditional meal is pre-microwave.  And, so far at least, there is no McTurkey or cranberry pizza.

One author expressed it this way:  “In a nation where the mall never palls and seven-days-a-week shopping seems enshrined as a civic religion, Thanksgiving stands out as an oasis of tranquility and a reminder of the values that once tempered America's materialism. Next Thursday give thanks for the one holiday that cannot be bought.” (Walter Shapiro)

Before we sit down to a loaded table, this is a good time to do something that helps insure that a person or family whose year has been bleaker than ours will have a hearty Thanksgiving meal, too.  Then, when we sit down to our own feast, we can bow with our loved ones – we acknowledge our blessings and give God our sincere gratitude.  As we get up from a table still heavy with leftovers, we can pray silently for God to make us sensitive to those whose hearts cry out for help.

The blessings we celebrate will turn to dust unless we receive them with grateful hearts and with a willingness to share.