Sunday, November 18, 2001
Sunday, November 18, 2001
So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed
through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and
brought great joy to all the believers.
Compare that man's attitude to that of one of Mother Teresa's nuns. One day Mother
Teresa saw this nun smiling and full of joy. She asked the sister why she was so happy.
The nun explained that she had found an old man who had fallen into a drain. The
man had been stuck in the drain for some time. He was completely covered with dirt
and maggots. The good sister cleaned the man up and took care of his open wounds.
As she was doing this something beautiful happened. "I knew I was touching the body
of Christ," she said. That's real conversion. That's the kind of conversion that counts.
(Acts 15:3
NRSV)
E. Stanley Jones once told of a Brahmin convert who began to live at the ashram
Stanley and others had founded in India. The Brahmins were drawn from the upper
caste in India. Everyone in the ashram was expected to participate in the community
chores, including the cleaning of latrines. At that task the former Brahmin stopped
short, claiming the job was beneath him. When Jones insisted that in Christ there are
no unsuitable tasks and that those converted to His lordship should have no trouble
cleaning latrines, the Indian responded, "Brother Stanley, I'm converted, but not that
far." That's our problem, isn't it? We're converted, but not that far.
Loving God, may my conversion be one that really counts. Amen.
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