NOVEMBER MISCELANY: Humility, Memory, Sanctuary, A Different Way [Sun, 11-19-23]

CHRIST IN WINTER: Reflections on Faith & Life for the Years of Winter—NOVEMBER MISCELANY: Humility, Memory, Sanctuary, A Different Way [Sun, 11-19-23]

 

HUMILITY

Early in his ministry, Dr. John Wilkey included a Greek word in his sermon, sure that his country congregation would know nothing of it and he would thus look quite smart. After the service, Miss Ruth Tapper, known to Dr. Wilkey only as a retired teacher, corrected his pronunciation of the word. Turned out Miss Tapper was Dr. Tapper, with a doctorate in ancient Greek lit!

That was an early lesson in humility for Dr. Wilkey. Similar to that of legendary sports writer Bob Hammel. He was writing for his hometown newspaper when he was so young that his mother had to drive him to events. Once he was not sure of the first name of the game’s high scorer, but he was in a hurry. So he did not look it up. He guessed at Jack. It was actually Tom. He ran into Tom years later. He opened up his billfold and pulled out the newspaper clipping with his wrong name. That was 68 years ago. They became good friends, but whenever Tom writes to Bob, he always signs as Jack. Bob says, “Fortunately, I learned very early that a good reporter never guesses.”

MEMORY

An older woman out in public ran into an old friend she hadn’t seen for a long time. They started chatting, decided to have coffee, etc. She kept trying to think of the other woman’s name and just couldn’t. Finally she said, “I’m sorry, but I just can’t remember your name. Will you tell me, please, what your name is?” The other woman thought and then asked, “How soon do you need to know?”

The older we get, the more relevant that joke is. We just don’t remember very well. If we remember at all, it’s a lot slower than it used to be.

SANCTUARY

Coaches, preachers, teachers, executives… these often share a common approach. They think, and often like to repeat, “it’s my way, or the highway.”

I intuitively knew better when I started preaching. Or perhaps it was just because I was young, nineteen, and knew I was ignorant. For whatever reason, for my whole career, when I became the “new” preacher, I did not try to change what I inherited. Until there was some good reason to do so.

A good reason always came, because nothing remains static. Situations change, and churches have to change in order to meet them. So do governments and schools and businesses and…

When I became the preacher at the Tampico, IL UMC, I inherited a little chorus that they always sang to start the service. I had heard it before, but never used it regularly. But I enjoyed singing with those folks… Lord, prepare me, to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, sanctuary, for you. Tampico was the last of my every-Sunday, year-long appointments, although I did a couple of shorter interim pastorates after that. I’ve not heard a congregation sing it in my 20 years since Tampico. But I sing it every day myself, to start my day, and, with the marvel of memory, each time I sing it with those good folks of the Tampico church.

A DIFFERENT WAY

At some point, old age is not just more of the same; it is a different way.

A different way of thinking, of remembering, of hoping, of faithing. I can’t explain that in words, but if you are old enough, you understand. If not, just enjoy your bliss.

John Robert McFarland