Jack's Surprise
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
Jack was one of those people that when you first met him you immediately liked him. There was no pretension in what Jack said. He told it like it was in his kind and gentle way. At the monthly men's fellowship breakfast Jack wasn't afraid to talk of spiritual matters, often catching others off guard.
When conversation centered on the trivial Jack would turn the conversation around, discussing more important matters of life and faith. It was obvious that he took his faith seriously. He spoke openly and honestly of his own life and his estrangement from God. He told how he was able to make peace with God. There was a note of urgency in Jack's voice. Jack was on a different timetable than all the other men. Jack had been fighting cancer for five years and knew he would not be able to keep fighting it. At first the doctors gave him six months. "But I showed them," he said with a smile. "I'm still here." He enjoyed the monthly breakfasts, stating several times he wished they would meet more often.
Jack asked to speak with the pastor for a few minutes following one of the breakfasts. He had been thinking of joining the church for a while, with the encouragement of his wife and mother-in-law.
Now he was ready to join. "There's one thing I want you to do for me," he said before he left. "Don't tell my wife or mother-in-law. I want to keep this a secret."
He laughed, saying, "I can't wait to see the look on their faces." A date was set for Jack to join the church the next month. The pastor promised not to tell anyone.
At the next men's breakfast Jack said he wanted to share something with the group. He told them that he would be joining the church in a couple of weeks. He had put off joining for too long. Now he was ready. This caught several of the men by surprise. One said, "I thought you already were a member, you've been coming for so long." "No," Jack replied, "I never got around to joining." He thanked the men for their positive influence in his life and helping him make this decision. Jack wanted to share this with the group, knowing that they would want to be present. He also made them promise not to tell anyone. "I don't want Jane or Ruth to find out," he said.
The day arrived when Jack would join the church. When he was called forward he purposely walked to the back of the church to get his mother-in-law. This was his moment, the moment he had been waiting for. With his wife on one arm and his mother-in-law on the other he proudly walked up the center aisle. At the altar of the church, where he had knelt several weeks before, he now professed his faith and took his membership vows. Everyone knew Jack was so happy. You could see it in his big smile. His friends were also happy. Although no one would admit it, some were a little choked up.
Jack touched many lives during his courageous five-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Just three short months after joining the church Jack died with his wife, Jane, and mother-in-law, Ruth, at his bedside.
Men at the monthly breakfast fellowship continue to speak with affection and admiration for their friend, Jack.
When conversation centered on the trivial Jack would turn the conversation around, discussing more important matters of life and faith. It was obvious that he took his faith seriously. He spoke openly and honestly of his own life and his estrangement from God. He told how he was able to make peace with God. There was a note of urgency in Jack's voice. Jack was on a different timetable than all the other men. Jack had been fighting cancer for five years and knew he would not be able to keep fighting it. At first the doctors gave him six months. "But I showed them," he said with a smile. "I'm still here." He enjoyed the monthly breakfasts, stating several times he wished they would meet more often.
Jack asked to speak with the pastor for a few minutes following one of the breakfasts. He had been thinking of joining the church for a while, with the encouragement of his wife and mother-in-law.
Now he was ready to join. "There's one thing I want you to do for me," he said before he left. "Don't tell my wife or mother-in-law. I want to keep this a secret."
He laughed, saying, "I can't wait to see the look on their faces." A date was set for Jack to join the church the next month. The pastor promised not to tell anyone.
At the next men's breakfast Jack said he wanted to share something with the group. He told them that he would be joining the church in a couple of weeks. He had put off joining for too long. Now he was ready. This caught several of the men by surprise. One said, "I thought you already were a member, you've been coming for so long." "No," Jack replied, "I never got around to joining." He thanked the men for their positive influence in his life and helping him make this decision. Jack wanted to share this with the group, knowing that they would want to be present. He also made them promise not to tell anyone. "I don't want Jane or Ruth to find out," he said.
The day arrived when Jack would join the church. When he was called forward he purposely walked to the back of the church to get his mother-in-law. This was his moment, the moment he had been waiting for. With his wife on one arm and his mother-in-law on the other he proudly walked up the center aisle. At the altar of the church, where he had knelt several weeks before, he now professed his faith and took his membership vows. Everyone knew Jack was so happy. You could see it in his big smile. His friends were also happy. Although no one would admit it, some were a little choked up.
Jack touched many lives during his courageous five-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Just three short months after joining the church Jack died with his wife, Jane, and mother-in-law, Ruth, at his bedside.
Men at the monthly breakfast fellowship continue to speak with affection and admiration for their friend, Jack.
