In Our Hearts
Stories
Contents
“In Our Hearts” by Peter Andrew Smith
“Finding the Lost” by Keith Wagner
“The Challenge of Being Merciful” by Keith Wagner
In Our Hearts
by Peter Andrew Smith
Psalm 14
Patty threw back her head and laughed. “Yeah, that sounds like something Gran would say.”
“She certainly was a character.” Hazel smiled widely. “You remind me so much of her and you have that same joyful laugh. My but Stella could laugh.”
“Some of my finest memories of Gran are her telling stories while baking in the kitchen with me,” Patty said. “There was always a punch line and a moral.”
“She was a good friend and God blessed this church through her.” Hazel took her hand and squeezed it gently. “I’ll be praying for you during this difficult time.”
“Thank you.”
Patty took a drink from her coffee and looked over the assembled people in the church hall. The room was packed with friends and neighbors talking and remembering Gran’s long and full life. A wave of sadness passed over Patty and she dabbed at her eyes. There was an ache in her heart and she knew the next few weeks were going to be hard.
“Well, about time you showed some proper emotion.”Jennifer snapped from behind her. “You’d think that you didn’t cared that our grandmother was gone given the way you’ve been carrying on.”
Patty turned around. “What are you talking about?”
“This is a funeral for the woman who raised us from the time we were children. She worked two jobs and put herself into an early grave taking care of us. And you, you’re laughing like this is a carnival.”
“Gran always liked carnivals. Remember the time she got her false teeth stuck in the candy apple?”
The shadow of a smile flashed over Jennifer’s face but was quickly replaced by a deep scowl. “This is not a time for levity!”
“No, this is a time for remembering the woman who loved us deeply and whose faith was as deep as the ocean. I can’t imagine remembering her without laughter because she wasn’t one for sombre and solemn times.”
“There is no joy today.” Jennifer started to sob. “Only the loss of the most important person in my world.”
Patty tried to reach out to her but Jennifer pushed her away.
“Did you even love her? Do you not care that she is gone?”
“Of course I loved her, Jennifer.” Patty put her cup down and faced her sister head on. “But we were both there in the hospital. Her body was giving out, she was ready to go and be with Gramps, and the time for her life was over.”
“None of that matters. She’s gone.”
“From this world, yes.” Patty frowned. “But don’t you remember how excited she was to be going to see her Savior and all those who went before her?”
Jennifer shook her head. “We buried her in the ground. She is gone and there isn’t anything more.”
“Don’t you remember all those Sundays Gran took us to church? There’s another life after this one and in love and by grace Jesus takes us there to be with God.”
“Foolishness,” Jennifer said. “There is no God.”
Patty considered her sister. “I am sorry then.”
“I should hope so. Your behavior has been atrocious.”
“No, I’m not sorry for celebrating Gran’s life and lifting up my faith,” Patty said. “I’m sorry that you have nothing to hold onto during this time. My heart broke when Gran died but I also felt peace because I believe she is in heaven with God. So despite my tears I have hope and can look back on her life and see the joy.”
Jennifer stared at her blankly. “That’s ridiculous. There is nothing but bleakness and despair ahead for us because the only person who ever cared is gone. We’re alone and I thought that I at least had you to count on during this time. I guess I was wrong about that as well.”
Patty reached over for her sister’s hand. “You always have me, sis.”
Jennifer considered her for a moment and withdrew her hand. “I don’t think so. You don’t understand.”
“I’m still going to be your sister and there for you no matter what.”
Jennifer shook her head. “I don’t feel like you are, I don’t believe like you do so there is no way you can be there for me.”
“Yet here I am and I will always be here.”
Jennifer looked at her for a few moments and wandered off without saying anything.
Patty watched her sister go and felt sorrow in her heart. She closed her eyes and prayed for God to give her the strength and patience she needed to deal with her sister and that God’s grace would be with her. For in her heart Patty hoped and prayed that her sister would turn back to God and know the grace of Christ for herself.
* * *
Finding the Lost
by Keith Wagner
Luke 15:1-10
Jesus illustrated the attitude of the Pharisees with these two parables; the lost sheep and the lost coin. Taking the time to find a stray sheep and leave the rest of the flock unattended was offensive to the Pharisees. They wondered why one would waste time on a single sinner when there are so many righteous folks.
I believe the parables are intended to show that God does not limit mercy to a special few. The lost and the worthless are important too. In fact they are so important to God that in both cases there is a celebration. Friends and neighbors are called together to share in the good news. “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost,” Jesus said.
In 2007 search parties were looking for Steve Fossett, the millionaire adventurer. He was the first person to fly a plane around the world without refueling and the first person to fly around the world in a balloon. But he was missing somewhere in Nevada. Millions of dollars had been spent as they attempted to find the wreckage of his plane or Fossett, wandering in the dessert. Would there be a party when he was discovered?
Fossett took off on Sept. 3, 2007, from a private Nevada airstrip on what was supposed to be a short, Labor Day weekend flight along the rugged Eastern Sierra. His widow, Peggy, called it “a Sunday drive.” But, he never returned. The fate of the millionaire adventurer was a mystery until a year later. A local hiker, Preston Morrow, discovered some of Fossett’s belongings, including two identification cards. Ultimately that led to the charred wreckage of what was his last flight. Much time has passed, but even with results from forensics and numerous tests and studies, precious little is really known about why Fossett crashed and what happened to him in his final moments.
One account of special interest was from an unidentified camper, who thinks he saw the plane moments before it slammed into a remote Eastern Sierra mountainside.
According to a final report compiled by the National Transportation Safety Board, the camper watched the plane struggle at an altitude of about 11,500 feet as strong winds blew out of the southwest. “It looked like it was standing still due to the wind,” said the camper. The report indicated that Fossett likely died on impact of multiple traumatic injuries, as the winds likely contributed to the crash. He was ultimately identified by bone fragments.
An investigator said that Fossett he didn’t file a proper flight plan. Had Fossett not committed that one oversight, it probably would have shaved months off the search time.
At the time of his death, Fossett was 63. Wind notwithstanding, it’s possible that another factor could have contributed to the crash, such as a health-related anomaly, like a heart attack. Far too little of his remains were found to address or advance that theory.
One working theory was that he already knew all too well the extent of his injuries, and that when enough time had passed and no rescuers appeared to be coming, only then did he make an effort to head toward the John Muir Wilderness. According to Wildlife Management Specialist, Steve Searles, there were some speculations that Fossett’s body may have been dragged away from the crash by a bear or mountain lion. He said, “I’m pretty sure that didn’t happen. Bears are too lazy to make that kind of effort, and coyotes and mountain lions wouldn’t have to move you. You’re already in the middle of nowhere, right in their backyard.”
What actually happened to Fossett in his final hours will probably never be fully known. Not enough forensic evidence is left to piece together enough to fully illustrate what sort of ordeal he went through before, during and possibly after the crash, if indeed he survived it at all.
This report about the tragic death of Steve Fossett is typical of our culture. We are obsessed with the details of why or how a person was lost. Often times there is a rush to judgment as to why a tragedy happens. Obviously there was no party since Fossett had died in the crash. That being said, what of his widow and family? Nothing was mentioned of the grief his death caused them.
In a statement, Mr. Fossett’s wife, Peggy V. Fossett, thanked the searchers and the hiker who found his belongings. She said, “The uncertainty surrounding my husband’s death over this past year has created a very difficult situation for me. I hope now to be able to bring to closure a very painful chapter in my life.”
Research on Fossett’s accident was very detailed and there were many theories as to why it happened. Unfortunately there was even one theory that Fossett was to blame for his own demise. Other than Fossett’s achievements there was no mention of his funeral or how the community came together to celebrate his life.
I doubt if Jesus would be obsessed with the details of the death of a famous person. He was concerned about those in society who were underprivileged or outcasts. These parables are here to help us appreciate the greatness of God’s mercy. I believe that if we can’t appreciate God’s mercy we will never experience it for ourselves. Rushing to judgment and being consumed with “why or how” a person died seems to be more important than the celebration of one’s life. Nevertheless, if we can’t rejoice when someone is found we are missing out on one of God’s gifts for us.
* * *
The Challenge of Being Merciful
by Keith Wagner
1 Timothy 1:12-17
In his book, The Lawyer Who Wanted a Loophole, Ray Pritchard tells the following story. “Once upon a time a man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out. A sensitive person came along and said, ‘I feel for you down there.’ A practical person came along and said, ‘I knew you were going to fall in sooner or later.’ A Pharisee said, ‘Only bad people fall into a pit.’ A mathematician calculated how he far he fell. A news reporter wanted an exclusive story on his pit. An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit. A self-pitying person said, ‘You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.’ A mystic said, ‘Just imagine that you’re not in a pit.’ An optimist said, ‘Things could be worse.’ A pessimist said, ‘Things will get worse.’ Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit!”
Several years ago there was an article about volunteerism in America. They stated that there is a greater amount of volunteerism in the Midwest than in any other part of the country. I wonder why that people in the heartland are willing to give of their time and resources than in other parts of the country? Perhaps it’s that Midwestern work ethic. Or, perhaps it’s the fact that there are more attractive things to do in the coastal areas and in the south where the weather is warmer. In other words, we volunteer because there is nothing else to do.
We all have our favorite charities and church folks are some of the most generous people in the world. We all support our favorite programs but there are usually strings attached. We know someone in the organization, we were once helped by a particular program or agency or we get something out of it.
Let’s be honest, to be merciful is challenging. To fully engage in an act of mercy one’s actions have to coincide with one’s beliefs. Paul was grateful to God for being merciful to him in spite of his abuse and persecutions. He said, “I acted ignorantly in unbelief but I was dealt with mercifully.”
In May, 2006, Daniel Mazur, a mountain climber, was less than 1,000 feet from the summit of Mt. Everest. He abandoned his own climb to the top in order to save another climber, Australian, Lincoln Hall, who had been left for dead by his own team. Mazur’s decision to aid the fallen climber meant that none of his group could press on. His fellow climbers included three men, from Canada, The United Kingdom and Nepal. Hall had succumbed to the oxygen-poor altitude the previous night and become desperately ill. Two guides tried to help him but they had to leave to save themselves. Hall was declared dead, but when Mazur and his team found him the next morning, he was sitting up and disoriented. He was given emergency assistance and the team worked to take him down the mountain. They also radioed ahead for help. Help came and Hall was taken to a base camp further down the mountain. He fully recovered the experience. Mazur’s group had expended so much energy helping Hall they could no longer complete the journey to the summit.
While Mazur’s team was helping Hall, two Italian climbers passed by en route to the top. They claimed they didn’t understand English and therefore couldn’t help. Later it was disclosed that they could speak English. A few days before, a British climber, David Sharp, had died on the same route. Approximately 40 people said they saw Mr. Sharp in distress, and walked past him, but no one rescued him. In the world of high-altitude climbing, such behavior is often acceptable, especially when a person is judged to be too far gone. There is always the possibility that other climbers might die in the harsh conditions in their attempt to save a victim.
Dan Mazur was merciful. He made a choice that denied him the opportunity to reach the mountain top but instead provided him the opportunity to save a life.
Unfortunately we spend our energy and resources, trying to get ahead, acquire more stuff and win all we can. To embrace the challenge of being merciful is not something we would routinely do.
*****************************************
StoryShare, September 15, 2019, issue.
Copyright 2019 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.
“In Our Hearts” by Peter Andrew Smith
“Finding the Lost” by Keith Wagner
“The Challenge of Being Merciful” by Keith Wagner
In Our Hearts
by Peter Andrew Smith
Psalm 14
Patty threw back her head and laughed. “Yeah, that sounds like something Gran would say.”
“She certainly was a character.” Hazel smiled widely. “You remind me so much of her and you have that same joyful laugh. My but Stella could laugh.”
“Some of my finest memories of Gran are her telling stories while baking in the kitchen with me,” Patty said. “There was always a punch line and a moral.”
“She was a good friend and God blessed this church through her.” Hazel took her hand and squeezed it gently. “I’ll be praying for you during this difficult time.”
“Thank you.”
Patty took a drink from her coffee and looked over the assembled people in the church hall. The room was packed with friends and neighbors talking and remembering Gran’s long and full life. A wave of sadness passed over Patty and she dabbed at her eyes. There was an ache in her heart and she knew the next few weeks were going to be hard.
“Well, about time you showed some proper emotion.”Jennifer snapped from behind her. “You’d think that you didn’t cared that our grandmother was gone given the way you’ve been carrying on.”
Patty turned around. “What are you talking about?”
“This is a funeral for the woman who raised us from the time we were children. She worked two jobs and put herself into an early grave taking care of us. And you, you’re laughing like this is a carnival.”
“Gran always liked carnivals. Remember the time she got her false teeth stuck in the candy apple?”
The shadow of a smile flashed over Jennifer’s face but was quickly replaced by a deep scowl. “This is not a time for levity!”
“No, this is a time for remembering the woman who loved us deeply and whose faith was as deep as the ocean. I can’t imagine remembering her without laughter because she wasn’t one for sombre and solemn times.”
“There is no joy today.” Jennifer started to sob. “Only the loss of the most important person in my world.”
Patty tried to reach out to her but Jennifer pushed her away.
“Did you even love her? Do you not care that she is gone?”
“Of course I loved her, Jennifer.” Patty put her cup down and faced her sister head on. “But we were both there in the hospital. Her body was giving out, she was ready to go and be with Gramps, and the time for her life was over.”
“None of that matters. She’s gone.”
“From this world, yes.” Patty frowned. “But don’t you remember how excited she was to be going to see her Savior and all those who went before her?”
Jennifer shook her head. “We buried her in the ground. She is gone and there isn’t anything more.”
“Don’t you remember all those Sundays Gran took us to church? There’s another life after this one and in love and by grace Jesus takes us there to be with God.”
“Foolishness,” Jennifer said. “There is no God.”
Patty considered her sister. “I am sorry then.”
“I should hope so. Your behavior has been atrocious.”
“No, I’m not sorry for celebrating Gran’s life and lifting up my faith,” Patty said. “I’m sorry that you have nothing to hold onto during this time. My heart broke when Gran died but I also felt peace because I believe she is in heaven with God. So despite my tears I have hope and can look back on her life and see the joy.”
Jennifer stared at her blankly. “That’s ridiculous. There is nothing but bleakness and despair ahead for us because the only person who ever cared is gone. We’re alone and I thought that I at least had you to count on during this time. I guess I was wrong about that as well.”
Patty reached over for her sister’s hand. “You always have me, sis.”
Jennifer considered her for a moment and withdrew her hand. “I don’t think so. You don’t understand.”
“I’m still going to be your sister and there for you no matter what.”
Jennifer shook her head. “I don’t feel like you are, I don’t believe like you do so there is no way you can be there for me.”
“Yet here I am and I will always be here.”
Jennifer looked at her for a few moments and wandered off without saying anything.
Patty watched her sister go and felt sorrow in her heart. She closed her eyes and prayed for God to give her the strength and patience she needed to deal with her sister and that God’s grace would be with her. For in her heart Patty hoped and prayed that her sister would turn back to God and know the grace of Christ for herself.
* * *
Finding the Lost
by Keith Wagner
Luke 15:1-10
Jesus illustrated the attitude of the Pharisees with these two parables; the lost sheep and the lost coin. Taking the time to find a stray sheep and leave the rest of the flock unattended was offensive to the Pharisees. They wondered why one would waste time on a single sinner when there are so many righteous folks.
I believe the parables are intended to show that God does not limit mercy to a special few. The lost and the worthless are important too. In fact they are so important to God that in both cases there is a celebration. Friends and neighbors are called together to share in the good news. “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost,” Jesus said.
In 2007 search parties were looking for Steve Fossett, the millionaire adventurer. He was the first person to fly a plane around the world without refueling and the first person to fly around the world in a balloon. But he was missing somewhere in Nevada. Millions of dollars had been spent as they attempted to find the wreckage of his plane or Fossett, wandering in the dessert. Would there be a party when he was discovered?
Fossett took off on Sept. 3, 2007, from a private Nevada airstrip on what was supposed to be a short, Labor Day weekend flight along the rugged Eastern Sierra. His widow, Peggy, called it “a Sunday drive.” But, he never returned. The fate of the millionaire adventurer was a mystery until a year later. A local hiker, Preston Morrow, discovered some of Fossett’s belongings, including two identification cards. Ultimately that led to the charred wreckage of what was his last flight. Much time has passed, but even with results from forensics and numerous tests and studies, precious little is really known about why Fossett crashed and what happened to him in his final moments.
One account of special interest was from an unidentified camper, who thinks he saw the plane moments before it slammed into a remote Eastern Sierra mountainside.
According to a final report compiled by the National Transportation Safety Board, the camper watched the plane struggle at an altitude of about 11,500 feet as strong winds blew out of the southwest. “It looked like it was standing still due to the wind,” said the camper. The report indicated that Fossett likely died on impact of multiple traumatic injuries, as the winds likely contributed to the crash. He was ultimately identified by bone fragments.
An investigator said that Fossett he didn’t file a proper flight plan. Had Fossett not committed that one oversight, it probably would have shaved months off the search time.
At the time of his death, Fossett was 63. Wind notwithstanding, it’s possible that another factor could have contributed to the crash, such as a health-related anomaly, like a heart attack. Far too little of his remains were found to address or advance that theory.
One working theory was that he already knew all too well the extent of his injuries, and that when enough time had passed and no rescuers appeared to be coming, only then did he make an effort to head toward the John Muir Wilderness. According to Wildlife Management Specialist, Steve Searles, there were some speculations that Fossett’s body may have been dragged away from the crash by a bear or mountain lion. He said, “I’m pretty sure that didn’t happen. Bears are too lazy to make that kind of effort, and coyotes and mountain lions wouldn’t have to move you. You’re already in the middle of nowhere, right in their backyard.”
What actually happened to Fossett in his final hours will probably never be fully known. Not enough forensic evidence is left to piece together enough to fully illustrate what sort of ordeal he went through before, during and possibly after the crash, if indeed he survived it at all.
This report about the tragic death of Steve Fossett is typical of our culture. We are obsessed with the details of why or how a person was lost. Often times there is a rush to judgment as to why a tragedy happens. Obviously there was no party since Fossett had died in the crash. That being said, what of his widow and family? Nothing was mentioned of the grief his death caused them.
In a statement, Mr. Fossett’s wife, Peggy V. Fossett, thanked the searchers and the hiker who found his belongings. She said, “The uncertainty surrounding my husband’s death over this past year has created a very difficult situation for me. I hope now to be able to bring to closure a very painful chapter in my life.”
Research on Fossett’s accident was very detailed and there were many theories as to why it happened. Unfortunately there was even one theory that Fossett was to blame for his own demise. Other than Fossett’s achievements there was no mention of his funeral or how the community came together to celebrate his life.
I doubt if Jesus would be obsessed with the details of the death of a famous person. He was concerned about those in society who were underprivileged or outcasts. These parables are here to help us appreciate the greatness of God’s mercy. I believe that if we can’t appreciate God’s mercy we will never experience it for ourselves. Rushing to judgment and being consumed with “why or how” a person died seems to be more important than the celebration of one’s life. Nevertheless, if we can’t rejoice when someone is found we are missing out on one of God’s gifts for us.
* * *
The Challenge of Being Merciful
by Keith Wagner
1 Timothy 1:12-17
In his book, The Lawyer Who Wanted a Loophole, Ray Pritchard tells the following story. “Once upon a time a man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out. A sensitive person came along and said, ‘I feel for you down there.’ A practical person came along and said, ‘I knew you were going to fall in sooner or later.’ A Pharisee said, ‘Only bad people fall into a pit.’ A mathematician calculated how he far he fell. A news reporter wanted an exclusive story on his pit. An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit. A self-pitying person said, ‘You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.’ A mystic said, ‘Just imagine that you’re not in a pit.’ An optimist said, ‘Things could be worse.’ A pessimist said, ‘Things will get worse.’ Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit!”
Several years ago there was an article about volunteerism in America. They stated that there is a greater amount of volunteerism in the Midwest than in any other part of the country. I wonder why that people in the heartland are willing to give of their time and resources than in other parts of the country? Perhaps it’s that Midwestern work ethic. Or, perhaps it’s the fact that there are more attractive things to do in the coastal areas and in the south where the weather is warmer. In other words, we volunteer because there is nothing else to do.
We all have our favorite charities and church folks are some of the most generous people in the world. We all support our favorite programs but there are usually strings attached. We know someone in the organization, we were once helped by a particular program or agency or we get something out of it.
Let’s be honest, to be merciful is challenging. To fully engage in an act of mercy one’s actions have to coincide with one’s beliefs. Paul was grateful to God for being merciful to him in spite of his abuse and persecutions. He said, “I acted ignorantly in unbelief but I was dealt with mercifully.”
In May, 2006, Daniel Mazur, a mountain climber, was less than 1,000 feet from the summit of Mt. Everest. He abandoned his own climb to the top in order to save another climber, Australian, Lincoln Hall, who had been left for dead by his own team. Mazur’s decision to aid the fallen climber meant that none of his group could press on. His fellow climbers included three men, from Canada, The United Kingdom and Nepal. Hall had succumbed to the oxygen-poor altitude the previous night and become desperately ill. Two guides tried to help him but they had to leave to save themselves. Hall was declared dead, but when Mazur and his team found him the next morning, he was sitting up and disoriented. He was given emergency assistance and the team worked to take him down the mountain. They also radioed ahead for help. Help came and Hall was taken to a base camp further down the mountain. He fully recovered the experience. Mazur’s group had expended so much energy helping Hall they could no longer complete the journey to the summit.
While Mazur’s team was helping Hall, two Italian climbers passed by en route to the top. They claimed they didn’t understand English and therefore couldn’t help. Later it was disclosed that they could speak English. A few days before, a British climber, David Sharp, had died on the same route. Approximately 40 people said they saw Mr. Sharp in distress, and walked past him, but no one rescued him. In the world of high-altitude climbing, such behavior is often acceptable, especially when a person is judged to be too far gone. There is always the possibility that other climbers might die in the harsh conditions in their attempt to save a victim.
Dan Mazur was merciful. He made a choice that denied him the opportunity to reach the mountain top but instead provided him the opportunity to save a life.
Unfortunately we spend our energy and resources, trying to get ahead, acquire more stuff and win all we can. To embrace the challenge of being merciful is not something we would routinely do.
*****************************************
StoryShare, September 15, 2019, issue.
Copyright 2019 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.
