Living Within Limits
Stories
Contents
“Living Within Limits” by Keith Wagner
“Moving Forward” by Keith Wagner
Living Within Limits
by Keith Wagner
Deuteronomy 6:1-9
When I was in the fourth grade I was the teacher’s pet. She used to send me to the library or the school office which meant I had the privilege of getting out of class. To impress my teacher I would run as fast as I could down the hallways. Since classes were in session the hallways were like runways. I liked to run and the freedom of soaring through those hallways at record speed was exhilarating.
One day I was racing down the hallway and when I turned the corner I ran smack into the school custodian. He warned me not to run in the hall and if he caught me again I would be sent to the principle’s office. About a month later I was on an errand for my teacher and once again I was running. When I turned the corner I collided with that same school custodian who was toting a scrub bucket and mop. Needless to say it wasn’t a pretty sight. The next thing I knew I was in the principle’s office sitting on the hot seat.
When we cross boundaries we are in jeopardy of getting hurt or hurting others. Every facet of life has boundaries. There are rules at school to maintain discipline and help you learn. Cheating, for example, may help you get a better grade but you don’t learn when you take short cuts. If you are playing a sport, like basketball, you have to abide by certain rules. There are rules in the workplace to protect you from getting hurt. Even cooking requires recipes to follow.
God has some rules too. They are expressed here in Deuteronomy. They are intended to keep us out of the hot seat. Some folks tend to perceive the commandments as absolutes. That means they see them as strict laws that are never to be broken or altered in any way. I believe God’s commandments are guidelines for life. They were given to help us live in community.
One time I heard from a friend who was driving to Dayton to visit his son in a hospital emergency room. His son had been in a car accident and he wasted no time in getting to the hospital. He told me he drove 85 miles an hour on the interstate when the speed limit was only 65. He had a personal emergency so he ignored the law because he was in a hurry.
Was he wrong? If we accidentally cross over the white lines on the edge of the highway but return safely back to the middle, have we broken any rules? If we roll through a stop sign in the middle of the country with no approaching traffic in site, have we committed a crime? Not really. But, if someone is in the habit of rolling through a stop sign they just might do that when a car is in crossing in front of them.
Over the years I have spent many hours on the road therefore I am used to road signs, markers and lines on the highway. They keep me on the road, especially at night. I am especially grateful for the white lines alone the outer edges of the highways since they help me stay on the road.
The commandments of God are guidelines that help us to keep our lives safe and prevent us from running over one another. Without them life would be total chaos since they help to maintain organization and harmony.
The commandments are given to encourage us to remember who is ultimately in charge. The commandments are not laws but principles. God is the reason for our being. God wants to be loved. God wants respect. God doesn't want us to have any substitutes. This unfortunately is our greatest pitfall. We tend to push the envelope and disregard the boundaries.
When we love God we yield to God and the limits he has set for us. We have much to be thankful for and all God asks from us is our whole hearted devotion.
One wet, foggy, muddy day, a little girl was standing on one side of a street in London waiting for an opportunity to cross over. Those who have seen London streets know how dangerous they can be. My wife and I were in London several years ago and we were overwhelmed by all the buses, cars, taxis, and bicycles that crowded the roads, not to mention the fact they were all driving on the wrong side of the road.
The little girl walked up and down, and looked into the faces of those who passed by. Some looked careless, some harsh, some were in haste, and she did not find the one she sought. She found no one she could trust. Finally she saw an aged man, rather tall, confident and kind. Looking into his face, she seemed to see the one for whom she had been waiting, and she went up to him and whispered timidly: “Please, sir, will you help me over?”
The old man led the little girl safely across the street, and later told the story of his encounter with the little girl. He said, “That little child's trust was the greatest compliment I ever had in my life.”
That man was Lord Shaftesbury. He has received honors at the hands of the United Kingdom. He has received honors conferred by royalty. But the greatest compliment he ever had in his life was when that little unknown girl singled him out in a crowd on a busy London street and she dared to trust him.
* * *
Moving Forward
by Keith Wagner
Ruth 1:1-18
In the story of Ruth, Naomi wanted her daughters to return to their homeland, but Ruth wanted to go forward, to start a new life with Naomi. There are times when people are stuck in the past, unable to let go and move forward. That’s because the future is uncertain and fear holds us back.
There are other things that can hold us back, things like faulty perceptions, negative experiences or lamenting over the good old days. However, the only way to live in faith is to keep moving forward.
During our river cruise in Europe we had the opportunity to meet many of the workers on the ship. They come from all over the world. Many come from Romania and the Philippines. The cruise line offered them good jobs but unfortunately they were separated from their families for long periods of time.
One of the most difficult experiences for families is separation. It requires adjustments, both physically and emotionally. Here we are confronted with two women, one who decides to go back and the other who decides to go forward.
When I talked with the workers on our cruise ship about being separated from their families they told me that seeing new countries and learning about other cultures was worth the sacrifice. Many of them had met their future spouses and made many new friends. Their experience with the cruise line also led to promotions and other job opportunities. Some have become tour guides or interpreters.
Moving forward does not always mean we have to change locations or leave our home towns. It can also mean changing the way we understand our mission in life. In Bordeaux, France, for example, we learned that many of the wineries are still operated by the same families which go back as many as 3 or 4 centuries.
You’ve probably never heard of Arnold Billie. Mr. Billie, as he was affectionately known, was a rural mail carrier in southern New Jersey. His daily route took him sixty-three miles through several counties and five towns. On his route he frequently provided personal service to his customers. If there was anything someone needed from the post office, Mr. Billie provided it; stamps, money orders, or packages to be picked up. All his customers needed to do was leave the flag up on their mailbox. One elderly woman had trouble starting her lawn mower. So on the days she needed it she left it beside her mailbox. When Mr. Billie came by he would start the mower and leave it running for her. Mr. Billie was willing to go the distance when it came to helping one’s neighbor. His faith went beyond his routine responsibilities.
We can’t spread our wings when we remain entrenched in routines, practices and traditions that keep us from changing. Burying the dead is a sacred act and helpful in providing closure when someone dies that we love. On the other hand, traditions can limit us, preventing us from being creative and exploring alternatives.
In the year 1797, farmers in New Jersey, the same state where Mr. Billie started a woman’s mower while delivering mail, resisted the use of a cast iron plow. They made the claim that a cast iron plow would poison the ground and stimulate the weeds. Thankfully, farmers have since adapted even newer technology to grow crops. Life is a series of adaptations, using what works best in the moment.
Our faith in God is like that. There are so many needs around us and potential places to be in ministry that we don’t have time to boast of our achievements. Nor do we have time to lament our failures. Moving forward leads to new discoveries that can enhance the quality of life for all society. Moving forward exposes us to new cultures and cultivates new relationships. Moving forward enables us to devote our lives to God.
*****************************************
StoryShare, November 4, 2018, issue.
Copyright 2018 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
“Living Within Limits” by Keith Wagner
“Moving Forward” by Keith Wagner
Living Within Limits
by Keith Wagner
Deuteronomy 6:1-9
When I was in the fourth grade I was the teacher’s pet. She used to send me to the library or the school office which meant I had the privilege of getting out of class. To impress my teacher I would run as fast as I could down the hallways. Since classes were in session the hallways were like runways. I liked to run and the freedom of soaring through those hallways at record speed was exhilarating.
One day I was racing down the hallway and when I turned the corner I ran smack into the school custodian. He warned me not to run in the hall and if he caught me again I would be sent to the principle’s office. About a month later I was on an errand for my teacher and once again I was running. When I turned the corner I collided with that same school custodian who was toting a scrub bucket and mop. Needless to say it wasn’t a pretty sight. The next thing I knew I was in the principle’s office sitting on the hot seat.
When we cross boundaries we are in jeopardy of getting hurt or hurting others. Every facet of life has boundaries. There are rules at school to maintain discipline and help you learn. Cheating, for example, may help you get a better grade but you don’t learn when you take short cuts. If you are playing a sport, like basketball, you have to abide by certain rules. There are rules in the workplace to protect you from getting hurt. Even cooking requires recipes to follow.
God has some rules too. They are expressed here in Deuteronomy. They are intended to keep us out of the hot seat. Some folks tend to perceive the commandments as absolutes. That means they see them as strict laws that are never to be broken or altered in any way. I believe God’s commandments are guidelines for life. They were given to help us live in community.
One time I heard from a friend who was driving to Dayton to visit his son in a hospital emergency room. His son had been in a car accident and he wasted no time in getting to the hospital. He told me he drove 85 miles an hour on the interstate when the speed limit was only 65. He had a personal emergency so he ignored the law because he was in a hurry.
Was he wrong? If we accidentally cross over the white lines on the edge of the highway but return safely back to the middle, have we broken any rules? If we roll through a stop sign in the middle of the country with no approaching traffic in site, have we committed a crime? Not really. But, if someone is in the habit of rolling through a stop sign they just might do that when a car is in crossing in front of them.
Over the years I have spent many hours on the road therefore I am used to road signs, markers and lines on the highway. They keep me on the road, especially at night. I am especially grateful for the white lines alone the outer edges of the highways since they help me stay on the road.
The commandments of God are guidelines that help us to keep our lives safe and prevent us from running over one another. Without them life would be total chaos since they help to maintain organization and harmony.
The commandments are given to encourage us to remember who is ultimately in charge. The commandments are not laws but principles. God is the reason for our being. God wants to be loved. God wants respect. God doesn't want us to have any substitutes. This unfortunately is our greatest pitfall. We tend to push the envelope and disregard the boundaries.
When we love God we yield to God and the limits he has set for us. We have much to be thankful for and all God asks from us is our whole hearted devotion.
One wet, foggy, muddy day, a little girl was standing on one side of a street in London waiting for an opportunity to cross over. Those who have seen London streets know how dangerous they can be. My wife and I were in London several years ago and we were overwhelmed by all the buses, cars, taxis, and bicycles that crowded the roads, not to mention the fact they were all driving on the wrong side of the road.
The little girl walked up and down, and looked into the faces of those who passed by. Some looked careless, some harsh, some were in haste, and she did not find the one she sought. She found no one she could trust. Finally she saw an aged man, rather tall, confident and kind. Looking into his face, she seemed to see the one for whom she had been waiting, and she went up to him and whispered timidly: “Please, sir, will you help me over?”
The old man led the little girl safely across the street, and later told the story of his encounter with the little girl. He said, “That little child's trust was the greatest compliment I ever had in my life.”
That man was Lord Shaftesbury. He has received honors at the hands of the United Kingdom. He has received honors conferred by royalty. But the greatest compliment he ever had in his life was when that little unknown girl singled him out in a crowd on a busy London street and she dared to trust him.
* * *
Moving Forward
by Keith Wagner
Ruth 1:1-18
In the story of Ruth, Naomi wanted her daughters to return to their homeland, but Ruth wanted to go forward, to start a new life with Naomi. There are times when people are stuck in the past, unable to let go and move forward. That’s because the future is uncertain and fear holds us back.
There are other things that can hold us back, things like faulty perceptions, negative experiences or lamenting over the good old days. However, the only way to live in faith is to keep moving forward.
During our river cruise in Europe we had the opportunity to meet many of the workers on the ship. They come from all over the world. Many come from Romania and the Philippines. The cruise line offered them good jobs but unfortunately they were separated from their families for long periods of time.
One of the most difficult experiences for families is separation. It requires adjustments, both physically and emotionally. Here we are confronted with two women, one who decides to go back and the other who decides to go forward.
When I talked with the workers on our cruise ship about being separated from their families they told me that seeing new countries and learning about other cultures was worth the sacrifice. Many of them had met their future spouses and made many new friends. Their experience with the cruise line also led to promotions and other job opportunities. Some have become tour guides or interpreters.
Moving forward does not always mean we have to change locations or leave our home towns. It can also mean changing the way we understand our mission in life. In Bordeaux, France, for example, we learned that many of the wineries are still operated by the same families which go back as many as 3 or 4 centuries.
You’ve probably never heard of Arnold Billie. Mr. Billie, as he was affectionately known, was a rural mail carrier in southern New Jersey. His daily route took him sixty-three miles through several counties and five towns. On his route he frequently provided personal service to his customers. If there was anything someone needed from the post office, Mr. Billie provided it; stamps, money orders, or packages to be picked up. All his customers needed to do was leave the flag up on their mailbox. One elderly woman had trouble starting her lawn mower. So on the days she needed it she left it beside her mailbox. When Mr. Billie came by he would start the mower and leave it running for her. Mr. Billie was willing to go the distance when it came to helping one’s neighbor. His faith went beyond his routine responsibilities.
We can’t spread our wings when we remain entrenched in routines, practices and traditions that keep us from changing. Burying the dead is a sacred act and helpful in providing closure when someone dies that we love. On the other hand, traditions can limit us, preventing us from being creative and exploring alternatives.
In the year 1797, farmers in New Jersey, the same state where Mr. Billie started a woman’s mower while delivering mail, resisted the use of a cast iron plow. They made the claim that a cast iron plow would poison the ground and stimulate the weeds. Thankfully, farmers have since adapted even newer technology to grow crops. Life is a series of adaptations, using what works best in the moment.
Our faith in God is like that. There are so many needs around us and potential places to be in ministry that we don’t have time to boast of our achievements. Nor do we have time to lament our failures. Moving forward leads to new discoveries that can enhance the quality of life for all society. Moving forward exposes us to new cultures and cultivates new relationships. Moving forward enables us to devote our lives to God.
*****************************************
StoryShare, November 4, 2018, issue.
Copyright 2018 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
