Life From Death -- Rick's Discovery
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
Rick asked the pastor if he could say a few words to the congregation on Sunday. It would be his first time back to church following a several-month illness. Knowing Rick the way he did, the pastor said it would be all right for him to speak.
Rick was nervous on Sunday morning as he made his way to the pulpit. "I admit that church was never a high priority for me," he began. He explained that he had good intentions; it was just that other activities always seemed to crowd out the church.
He told how he hadn't been feeling well for a couple of weeks before he went to the doctor. He endured a battery of tests before the doctor told him what he feared the most: cancer. Rick went home and cried. For the first time in his life he felt there was nothing he could do to remedy the situation. He asked that question most people ask in that situation, "Why me?"
It was then after hearing this devastating news, that Rick began attending church more regularly. It became a source of hope to him. He told the people in his Sunday School class about his illness. His name was added to the prayer list. He took comfort knowing that people at the church showed concern for him as he was about to undergo surgery followed by several weeks of chemotherapy.
The people of that church did more than just pray for him. Members of his Sunday School class visited him at the hospital.
The day he went home from the hospital some women from the church helped clean the house. Another couple made arrangements for a hospital bed to be delivered and set up at his home. "Don't worry about how much it costs," they told him. "Concentrate on getting better." Others brought food to him, including homemade soup which was the only thing he could eat when he was so sick. When he was well enough people would talk to him on the phone, which he really appreciated. Others sent him cards and notes of encouragement. There was a gentleman from the church who did not deal well with illness but wanted to help, so he came and mowed the grass each week.
Rick was touched by the others' kindness. He felt like the Lord had come into his home to help him. To be honest, he said, he felt bad that he had been a member of the church for so many years without ever doing anything to help anyone else, and now here were all these people helping him.
He told the congregation that once he turned his illness over to the Lord he felt peace. Then his priorities changed, which altered his entire outlook on life. He wanted to say a few words to the congregation to thank them for their support during his illness and recovery. "I never would have made it," Rick told the congregation, with tears welling up in his eyes, "without you people in the church."
He valued the importance of life after his experience of deadly illness and now viewed each day for what it truly was -- a gift from God. He thanked the pastor for giving him the opportunity to say a few words and then went back to his pew. This was one of those Sundays when the pastor really did not have to preach a sermon, Rick already had.
Rick was nervous on Sunday morning as he made his way to the pulpit. "I admit that church was never a high priority for me," he began. He explained that he had good intentions; it was just that other activities always seemed to crowd out the church.
He told how he hadn't been feeling well for a couple of weeks before he went to the doctor. He endured a battery of tests before the doctor told him what he feared the most: cancer. Rick went home and cried. For the first time in his life he felt there was nothing he could do to remedy the situation. He asked that question most people ask in that situation, "Why me?"
It was then after hearing this devastating news, that Rick began attending church more regularly. It became a source of hope to him. He told the people in his Sunday School class about his illness. His name was added to the prayer list. He took comfort knowing that people at the church showed concern for him as he was about to undergo surgery followed by several weeks of chemotherapy.
The people of that church did more than just pray for him. Members of his Sunday School class visited him at the hospital.
The day he went home from the hospital some women from the church helped clean the house. Another couple made arrangements for a hospital bed to be delivered and set up at his home. "Don't worry about how much it costs," they told him. "Concentrate on getting better." Others brought food to him, including homemade soup which was the only thing he could eat when he was so sick. When he was well enough people would talk to him on the phone, which he really appreciated. Others sent him cards and notes of encouragement. There was a gentleman from the church who did not deal well with illness but wanted to help, so he came and mowed the grass each week.
Rick was touched by the others' kindness. He felt like the Lord had come into his home to help him. To be honest, he said, he felt bad that he had been a member of the church for so many years without ever doing anything to help anyone else, and now here were all these people helping him.
He told the congregation that once he turned his illness over to the Lord he felt peace. Then his priorities changed, which altered his entire outlook on life. He wanted to say a few words to the congregation to thank them for their support during his illness and recovery. "I never would have made it," Rick told the congregation, with tears welling up in his eyes, "without you people in the church."
He valued the importance of life after his experience of deadly illness and now viewed each day for what it truly was -- a gift from God. He thanked the pastor for giving him the opportunity to say a few words and then went back to his pew. This was one of those Sundays when the pastor really did not have to preach a sermon, Rick already had.
