10-16-23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This following is not a parable; not at all. It is a true story I heard and pass along with names changed to protect the innocent, and blessed, parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I will call the principal figure Charlie, who just observed his 50th<\/sup> anniversary with his wife Sally, as we will call her. Their sons threw an elaborate and surprise anniversary party. There were guests old and young, from old times and recent, attending from far and wide. There was a lot of love in the restaurant room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This story \u2013 remember where you are reading this \u2013 has a spiritual component. This aspect was not planned, nor even noticed by all the guests. But it is an example of how God does not always shout \u2013 He often whispers. The Holy Spirit can virtually shove us sometimes! But He can also tenderly, gently tug at our hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Charlie and one of the \u201cfarthest drive\u201d guests were college roommates all those years ago, and were not particularly religious. At the party they shared some of the fun times, funny stories, and practical jokes. In the subsequent years Charlie\u2019s friend Rich as we shall call him, has grown in his faith and sometimes shares encouraging messages with people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the memories that popped up was a recollection from those college days about another friend named David, let us say, who in intervening years experienced a crisis; and that Charlie suggested that Rich talk and pray with David. It seems this was an uncharacteristic thing for Charlie to do, at least back in the day. But evidently those prayers had some impact, and since then David has been following Rich\u2019s occasional encouraging messages. Now they are brothers in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Charlie had, and has, a real brother who could be called George and is known as an impressive brainiac, sharing the love but not the politics nor faith of Charlie. Nevertheless, as Rich learned in surprise, Charlie has been forwarding his messages in those two areas\u2026 and George made a point, at this party, of expressing his appreciation and discussing some thoughts. Charlie the evangelist? Some would be surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In another story, or backstory, Charlie and Rich had never met each other\u2019s children through the years. Yet Charlie was so upset at the rupture in the relationship of Rich and one of his daughters that he often volunteered to call her out of the blue and try to heal the situation. Which eventually he did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not the most surprising aspect of that particular story. Charlie\u2019s niece, who could be called Connie, is one of the most active Christians in that family. She works, through her church, with missionaries. Making friends with Rich, she spoke of a concern for Uncle Charlie\u2019s faith. But she was surprised to hear the story of his intervention in the father-daughter problem\u2026 and especially her uncle\u2019s reassurance, through the years to Rich, that he \u201cprays for them every night and for their heartache.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n To the extent that Connie was surprised is the main reason I am sharing this story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Friendships endure, or grow cold. Families grow closer, or drift apart. Seeds of faith are planted, and sometimes sprout and grow; in fact that often happens \u2013 no surprise. But as all this \u2013 for the lack of a better term and for the sake of this story, let us call it life<\/em> \u2013 happens, deepening faith and learning to share Christian love, gets manifested in myriad ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Charlie fellow is not like the cousin of a friend of mine whose own faith has been growing despite (or because?) of a great crisis with her son. My friend\u2019s cousin is a Christian of comfortable means, and gives greatly to charity. How do we know that? He brags about it. Oh, it comes out in small talk, or anecdotes, or references to details\u2026 but everyone knows how \u201cgood\u201d he is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bible \u2013 our Lord Himself \u2013 firmly tell us not to be like that man. Have you heard the words? Not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing (don\u2019t do things for praise). Not to utter the loudest prayers in places of worship. That the widow\u2019s mite is more meaningful than ostentation. When Jesus talked about not hiding one\u2019s light under a bushel, He meant that our faith<\/em> should shine as a glowing candle; but works, our deeds, may be in secret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who sees the good works? The giver, who surely is blessed; the recipients, who benefit; and God, who knows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, as stories were loudly shared during that anniversary party, so also were stories of different sorts — privately, of faith and witness and love. No surprise: that\u2019s how life ought to be. A mosaic of experiences, friendships, memories. Often, memories that bring tears to our eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it sounds like at that surprise party for Charlie and Sally, there were two kinds of tears flowing. Some of them like showers of blessing. We also have an illustration of the saying that we should always \u201cshare the Gospel… sometimes even using words.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n + + +<\/p>\n\n\n\n