Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Tuesday, March 9, 2004
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we
wish to see Jesus."
(John 12.21
NRSV)
He knew his pipes had to go--but not right away. He took them with him when his wife and he were on vacation on a lake in the Ozarks. He told the Lord, "I really have quit, you know. But this is vacation, isn't it? Far from the faces of Jesus collection, far from the youth groups and all those I might influence. What's wrong with a dreamy pipe full up here?" He got out his pipe box and handled the pipes one by one. "The Whisper" said, "hand them over!" Shedd said he had it out with the Lord and once and for all it was settled. It was settled the Lord's way!
So one morning, he took his pipe box out on the lake, at least a half mile from their cabin and dropped them over. The next morning, though, there they were! On the beach in front of their cabin.
The argument with the inner Voice began again. So--the next morning, he took his wife Martha with him. They rowed back to the middle of the lake. Martha held one hand and with the other, Shedd took each pipe, dropped that particular old friend overboard, and watched it sink to the bottom of the lake. He said, "They are yours, Lord. This time, they're yours."
Who you are may depend on what kind of face you see on Jesus. Do you see a loving face, a forgiving face, a saving face? Sir, we would see Jesus? That's our cry and that is the world's cry. We see him in the poor and the outcast. And, hopefully, others can see him in us.
God of peace, fill my heart with your love so that others may see Jesus in me. Amen.
