Sunday, September 16, 2001
Sunday, September 16, 2001
I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous
ordinances.
The young man studied hard and proudly received his degree and diploma. On his
graduation he
said to his father, "Dad, I'm ready to go to work. Give me your best mine, and I'll show
you how
to run it."
The father replied,"No, Son, first you must change into your work clothes and go down
into the
mine. There you will gain experience. You may start at the bottom and work your way
up."
But the son insisted, "Look, Dad, I've been to school. I've received my diploma. With all
due
respect, I know more about mining than you will ever know. And if you will just give me
your
best mine, I will prove it to you."
And so the father, against his better judgment, gave his son the most productive mine.
For a while
it did well. Then one day the father received a letter, stating, "Dad, you know that the
mine I am
working is backed up to the lake. Well, the water is seeping in. We've shored it up, but
the
shoring does not seem to hold. What do you think we ought to do?" The father did not
answer.
In a few more weeks the son wrote again, "Look Dad, this is serious. We are not able to
stop the
water. What do you think we ought to do?" Still no answer from the father.
Finally the son frantically wired his father: IF YOU DO NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER
SOON,
WE ARE GOING TO LOSE THE ENTIRE MINE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? The father
wired
back: USE YOUR DIPLOMA TO STOP THE LEAK.
It is sad when somebody thinks that he or she has already arrived. We have much to
learn from
the Master.
(Psalm 119:7
NRSV)
There is a story about a wealthy gold miner who had an son destined to take over the
family
business. The father sent his son back East to study in the finest engineering school
and to learn
all he could about managing the mines.
Loving God, help me to not become complacent in learning about you. Amen.
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