"To Make New" by Peter Andrew Smith
"Plan and Purpose" by John Fitzgerald
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To Make New
by Peter Andrew Smith
John 17:6-19
John saw the storm raging in Grandfather’s eyes and slunk into the seat. Grandfather grabbed another chair and placed it across from him. John braced himself but nothing happened.
The old man sat, closed his eyes and breathed deeply in time to the ticking from the kitchen clock. Then Grandfather opened his eyes and stared. John tried staring back but found he couldn’t match the older man’s steely gaze. John looked away.
“I’m sorry.”
Grandfather continued to stare.
“I’m sorry, okay. I shouldn’t have been in your garden. I know it’s off limits.”
“Indeed,” the old man said. “You should not have been there.”
John breathed a sigh of relief. “So what is my punishment?”
“Punishment?” Grandfather sat back in his chair.“Why should you be punished?”
“I did something that I wasn’t supposed to do.” John leaned forward. “Mom, my teachers, everyone always punishes me when I mess up.”
Grandfather stroked the whiskers on his chin.“How is that working?”
“What?”
Grandfather leaned forward and raised his voice. “How is that working?”
“I heard you fine the first time, Grandfather.”
“Ah.” Grandfather lowered his voice. “If you heard me then why don’t you answer?”
John rubbed his forehead. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
“You told me that your mother and other people punish you when you do bad things. So is that working?”
John shrugged. “I guess so.”
“So why were you somewhere you are not supposed to be? You could have damaged the delicate plants I have been trying to grow in that garden.”
John looked down. “No reason.”
Grandfather sat back and resumed staring. Seconds dragged into minutes. John squirmed in his chair.
“So are you going to punish me?”
Grandfather shook his head. “No.”
John started to get out of the chair. “Okay, well sorry about the-”
“Sit.” Grandfather’s voice was calm but hard as the mountains. “We are not finished here.”
John sat back down quickly. In all his life he had never heard Grandfather raise his voice but he knew the tone meant the older man was losing patience. He didn’t want Grandfather angry with him. His mother’s father was the only person who actually listened to him.
“You said I wasn’t going to get a punishment.”
Grandfather nodded. “Punishment does not seem to help you be a better person.”
“Mom says that’s because I don’t care about anything.” John slumped in the chair. “I’m too much of a hard case.”
“No, I think this time the problem is less about you being cold and unfeeling and more that you care a great deal about what one person thinks about you.” Grandfather leaned forward.
John crossed his arms.“I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“Even the girl I saw you talking to earlier. What is her name?” Grandfather tapped his finger on his chin. “Beth?”
“Maybe.” John looked at the floor. “She’d never like me. I’m not a very nice person.”
“So what do you need to do?”
“I don’t know.” John shrugged.“I can’t do anything right.”
“You can learn.” Grandfather reached forward and pointed at John’s chest. “Follow the way.”
“Follow Jesus?” John threw up his hands. “I can barely get through the day without getting into trouble. I’m not good enough to be a Christian.”
“Anyone can follow Jesus,” Grandfather said. “The being a good person comes after that.”
“Huh?”
“Your ears not working?” Grandfather asked. “You want me to speak louder?”
“No, I heard you.” John scratched his head. “You just have it backward. Good people follow Jesus. I’m a brat, a loser.”
Grandfather shook his head. “No, you have it the wrong way. You get good by following Jesus not the other way around.”
“I’ve tried to be good. I don’t have it in me.”
“Try following Jesus instead,” Grandfather said. “Look to him to see the way you need to go and the words you need to say.”
“I’ll just mess up.”
Grandfather laughed. “Then you will be in good company. All disciples mess up. Jesus has lots of forgiveness and more. He has help for us when we need it.”
John sighed. “Well I guess I could try.”
“Good.” Grandfather smiled.
“So are we done now?” John asked.
“We need to go back outside to the garden.” Grandfather stood up. “I think you were going to pick some flowers to give to this girl you like.”
John’s eyes went wide. “I thought I wasn’t allowed to touch the plants.”
“You are not. I am though.” Grandfather looked thoughtful. “You may choose up to three flowers. That would make a nice bouquet to give to her.”
“Thanks. She loves flowers.” John smiled widely.“Grandfather?”
“Yes?”
“You are the best man I know.”
Grandfather opened his arms and hugged John. “That you can credit to Jesus.”
Peter Andrew Smith is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada currently serving St. James United Church in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He is the author of All Things are Ready (CSS) a book of lectionary based communion prayers and a number of stories and articles, which can be found listed at www.peterandrewsmith.com.
Plan and Purpose
by John Fitzgerald
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
This is a time of year when the Class of 2015 holds commencement ceremonies. Across the nation we shall be sending graduating seniors into our world. If there is a single element to be desired for our soon-to-be graduates it would be a strong sense of moral principal.
Many of us are dismayed at the chaos and confusion which engulfs our country mainly due to a lack of morality. The ethics and personal standards our forefathers embraced have largely been either watered down or completely destroyed. The problem has become so great that our society is desperately seeking people of personal integrity at every level.
In combatting the constant attack upon our ethical code it is helpful to recall examples from American history when individual citizens demonstrated a disciplined sense of right and wrong behavior. One of my favorite stories from the past is drawn from an incident in young Abraham Lincoln’s life. Lincoln had a well-earned reputation as “Honest Abe” who exemplified trustworthy behavior in all circumstances. At an age of just a few years older than today’s 2015 graduate, Lincoln tended a store in the frontier settlement of New Salem outside Springfield, Illinois. As storekeeper, Lincoln once overcharged a customer four pennies. True to his passion for honesty, Mr. Lincoln walked four miles in order to reach the home of this person who had lost a small amount of money due to error. Would any of us today make a strenuous effort today like young Abe to ensure our tiny mistake had been made right?
Honesty, integrity, and a moral compass is what we would ask the Class of 2015 to inherit at they march into America of 2015. These qualities are gained through a belief that God is at work in this time and place. The plans and purposes of an Almighty God will not be denied no matter how hard we try and run from them. Abraham Lincoln maintained a steadfast belief in the Lord’s providence throughout his lifetime. This fundamental faith that God moved in American history guided Lincoln in his choices towards honoring truth.
Our scripture reading from the Book of Acts cites an example of trusting divine providence. Peter is portrayed as preaching the Gospel to a crowd of 120 followers of Christ. St. Pete tells his audience that God’s plan included the betrayal of Judas right from the beginning. The Sovereign Lord preordained that one of the 12 disciples of Jesus would turn him over to Jewish leaders for trial and crucifixion.
John the Baptist is mentioned in our Bible passage as one who also played a role in a divine plan for God’s Messiah. Nothing has been left to chance. The Heavenly Father knew since time’s beginning a part that each one would perform in ensuring humanity’s redemption.
It is vital the Class of 2015 have knowledge that God’s plan and purpose guide them in years which lie ahead. We are not cast into this world by random nature. The Lord Jesus has a personal plan for each graduating senior. All of life can be wrapped up in this holy calling of seeking God’s will. If we have no confidence that God is in control, than life can be viewed as one of being at the mercy of wind and waves from this world Our task is to instill the desire for our young people to search for a higher purpose guiding their daily walk. Meaning and purpose can be obtained through a unity with the Living Lord. The challenge to seek God is one not only for graduating seniors, but for every one of us despite our respective age. Every day there are new challenges and problems. We cannot be a child of God unless there is constant attention to God’s presence.
Our Bible reading from Acts indicates that Peter exhorted his listeners not only to discover God’s plan throughout history, but also for the immediate moment. The situation Peter and 11 disciples faced is replacement of leadership. Judas committed suicide and a new person must emerge to fill his position within the group of 12 faithful disciples. The practice of drawing straws to determine divine favor is cited as a solution to this thorny question of a new leader.
The Holy Spirit does give direction as to what practices should be employed in discovering answers for difficult questions. God will not abandon us in our asking for guidance and purpose. The Class of 2015 needs to know this reality. All of us should be aware of the Lord’s hand upon us in our individual walk. The young Lincoln had constant focus of God’s direction. As an adult articulated forcefully the plan and purpose of the Almighty for our country. As I close this message, hear these words penned by Lincoln in his Second Inaugural Address concerning God’s purpose for America: with malice toward none, with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle; and for his widow, and his orphan-to all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.
John Fitzgerald lives in Leesburg, Ohio, with his wife Carolyn and has served as pastor at the Leesburg Friends Meeting for the past 27 years. Cornfield Cathedral (Fairway Press, 2013) is the second book authored by Pastor Fitzgerald. John has earned a Master's of Ministry Degree from the Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana.
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StoryShare, May 17, 2015, issue.
Copyright 2015 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
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