Missed

Opening his briefcase, Mr. Johns settled into his seat in the “roomette” or one-person compartment in the passenger train. As he extracted some papers, he sighed with contentment at how much he enjoyed train travel. Unlike his fellow executives who always flew to their appointments, Mr. Johns preferred to make his business trips by rail. It was slow, his friends told him, and they also implied that it was also old fashioned. Still, his business was such that Mr. Johns could easily make his appointments and still travel by rail.

Then he remembered his next appointment and his contentment turned to anxiety. For he had to meet a client in Cleveland the next morning and when the train stopped there at 7 a.m. he had to get off. And that presented a problem.

“How are you today?”

Mr. Johns looked up to see the smiling face of the uninformed car steward at the open door and that gave him an idea. .“Just fine, “Mr. Johns replied. “Say, I wonder if you could help me. I’ve got a very important appointment tomorrow in Cleveland and I just have to get off when the train stops at 7 a.m.” He reached into his breast pocket and from his wallet picked out a crisp new bill and handed it to the steward. “I want you to be sure to get me up and off the train at Cleveland.”

The steward’s eyes widened at the large tip. “Yes, sir!”

“Now I warn you that you may have a hard time waking me up and getting me off. I’m a very deep sleeper, and I may be groggy and grouchy, so just ignore any objections. You’ve got to get me off the train!”

“I’ll do it sir, “The steward assured him. “I’ll be sure to get you off at 7 a.m. at Cleveland.”

As the steward departed, Mr. Johns settled back in his seat and tried to relax. Surely he’d solved his problem.

The next morning he felt the rocking motions of the train and the realization shook him further awake. Moving train? What time was it? A glance at his watch revealed what he feared– it was way past 7 a.m.! He hurtled himself out of bed, quickly dressed and then flung back the door of his roomette just as the steward was passing by.

“Hey! It’s past eight and you were supposed to get me off the train at 7 a.m. at Cleveland!”

The steward’s mouth dropped and his eyes widened. The words came haltingly at first then began to spill out. “Oh, sir, I’m so sorry! I don’t know what happened! I thought I could do it… I just don’t know what happened…”

The steward’s reaction was so genuine that Mr. Johns felt his anger subsiding. The damage was done, he thought, he’d best forget it and call his client and make another appointment. The steward tentatively held out the tip but Mr. John’s waved it away, and shaking his head in frustration, he slid the door shut.

The steward continued slowly down the corridor, also shaking his head. “Wow, that was close!” He said to himself. “But I wonder who it was I did put off at Cleveland!”

Mr. Johns certainly missed out on what he thought would be a great opportunity and sometimes that also happens to me when I think up a new project to serve God and it doesn’t work out. Why would that happen? Sometimes it’s because what I thought was perfect, God didn’t. Because the creation was mine, not his, he could not allow me to proceed. After all, since his plans and provision for me are perfect and he sees all aspects of the problem, I can only believe that my plan might have been harmful.

Yet when I follow his will then everything fall into place, And when that happens I don’t miss out on an opportunity to serve him and when that happens I’ll be sure to get off at Cleveland!

One Word Makes The Difference

The ancient Greek city-state of Sparta had a military-oriented culture and society and because of this the people were known to express their thoughts in a very few words. In fact, since another name for Sparta was Laconia, we have the English word “laconic” to describe such a terse response.

Then in the fourth century BC, Philip of Macedonia (father of Alexander the Great) began to assume military control over many Greek cities. Yet Sparta continued to defy him. Thinking he could bluff them into compliance he threatened them. “If I invade I will destroy your city.” He told them.

When the Spartans sent a one-word respond Philip changed his plans. With a grudgingly admiration he left them alone.

The Spartans’ response? Just the word: “If.”

That one word might have meant freedom for the Spartans, but sometimes I find it limiting. It usually happens when God challenges me and I start to worry about what might happen, thinking, “What’ll happen if I can’t do it?” or “if something goes wrong.”

Such a small word and yet restrictive if I allow it to be so, and when I do I usually discover I’ve worried for no reason because the “if” situations never arise! After all, when God’s behind the task, and I encounter difficulties he helps me deal with them. Still, I can use the “if” word for assurance rather than worry. For example, I might say “If I have a problem he will help me” or “If something goes wrong he has a solution for it”.

One word makes the difference – for my benefit and his glory.

We Never Know

“Why didn’t I fill up that last station?" George looked with frustration at the “E” indication on his gas gauge. “Now I’ll never make that appointment!”

Emerging from the stalled car, he looked up and down the deserted highway to see no sign of life, and only conscious of the rolling scrubland and the hot wind that bit into his face as he pondered his next course.

He’d been so optimistic when he started off that morning. He’d always prided himself on going anywhere to sell his company’s products and there was such an opportunity in the next town. However, it meant driving a long way through this rough country, and if running out of gas wasn’t frustrating enough now he realized he’d left his cell phone back at the office!

So what should he do? A check of the map revealed that the next town was five miles down the road and surely, he thought, there he could hire someone to drive him back with some gas. It seemed to be his only recourse, so he locked up the car and set off.

The hot wind died down after a while and then he felt the sun as he walked along. The heat was relentless, making him strip off his jacket, discard his tie and open his shirt and trudge on. Then a faint roar caught his ear and he shielded his eyes from the sun to see an oncoming car speed into view. George stepped out in the road forcing the driver to a screeching halt, and then he ran up to make his appeal as the driver lowered his window. “Can you help me? I ran out of gas down the road and…”

The driver was a young man with dark glasses concealing his face, and he didn’t bother to lift them as he regarded George from behind the wheel.”Whatever it is, brother, I can’t help you!” The man snapped as he gunned his engine. “Got a lot of places to go and people to see.”

“But I need to get to the next town….”

“I’m not going that way, brother – can’t help you. But there’s help just a few miles that other way. But say – do you want to buy a necktie? I’ve got a great selection in the trunk. Domestic and imported.”

George did not respond at once at the unexpected question, so the man continued. “No? I guess not. Gotta go!”

This time George fell back as the car leapt forward and left him in a crowd of dust. He set off again.

The last miles were torture. It was nearly dusk when he reached the town and the first thing he saw was a restaurant set back from the road. Big cars half filled the parking lot and the name glowed out from a neon sign. “Le Café Elegante.”

A couple entering the restaurant held the door open for George and stepped aside for him to enter. The man’s crisp white shirt and sharply pressed dark suit as well as the woman’s sparkly jewelry and silken dress were a decided contrast to George’s rumpled pants and sweat-drenched shirt. Once inside he paused in the restaurant lobby a headwaiter in a tuxedo warmly greeted the couple and left to show them to a table. Another waiter returned to podium and George stepped up.

“I need to find…” George began.

The waiter lifted his chin a bit. “We cannot serve you without a necktie.”

That’s silly, of course, but George certainly learned that sometimes you have to be open to whatever happens because the experience may prove useful later. This happens occasionally when God arranges an encounter of a person or event that he will use later in my life. So when that happens my best response is to be open to both the experience and the lesson. For if the unexpected is indeed God at work then my attitude of readiness determines if I’ll be ready for that next tie salesman

Reverting

The DJ squinted at the paper handed him by his producer. “I didn’t feel the earthquake.” The producer shrugged and pointed, his indication clear that the DJ was to read it when the last song ended.

As a resident of southern California the DJ was very familiar with tremblers but though they may not have felt the quake at their location, parts of their listening area probably had, hence the announcement. So as the music faded, the DJ adjusted his headphones and pulled the mike closer.

“I’ve just been handed this notice. Due to the earthquake thirty moments ago the telephone company is urging the public to refrain from using their telephones unless it is absolutely necessary. This is to keep the lines open for any emergency personnel.”

He put the notice aside and checked the clipboard that held the program schedule, and then lapsed back into his usual enthusiastic banter. “Now we’re going to take a break and pay some bills – but we’ll be right back. And don’t forget! We’ll be giving away a pair of concert tickets to caller number five!”

That DJ certainly forgot his own good advice as he returned to the usual routine, and we often do the same – particularly in our spiritual lives. It usually occurs when we start out with the best intentions and then fail to follow through.

Perhaps you’ve decided to trust God more but when a problem comes along you slip into fearful worry. Or maybe you’ve decided to seek God’s guidance in your work and then you surge ahead with your own ideas. Or possibly you’ve decided to drop a harmful habit that interferes in your Christian witness, but before you know it you’re back to doing it.

Yet though we do fall short, we know that our failure is never final. For no matter how we’ve failed, he’s always ready to pick us up, dust us off and set us off on the right path again. After all, he is the God of second chances.

Always Thankful

“This was certainly a good idea to take a hike in the country,” Horace turned back to Fred. “But I thought you said you knew the way.”

Fred had paused and was perusing a map he’d unfolded from his pocket. “I do and here’s what we’ll do. If we want to get back to the highway where we left the car then we should go this way.” Fred pointed.

“That means we’ll have to cut through that field.” Horace pointed out.

“Guess we’ll have to.” Fred had refolded the map and returned it to his pocket. “We need to be careful going through this fence.” Fred said. “Here, I’ll hold up the barbed wire and let you slip through and then you do the same for me.” Then within just a few moments they were striding through the field toward a fence on the other side.

“Say, did you see that sign back there” Fred turned to look back. “It said something about “no trespassing’”

“Oh, we won’t bother anything.” Horace returned. “But now that you mention it, there was something else. About a …bull!”

“About a what?” Fred asked.

“Bull!” Horace stood still; his trembling finger was straight out in front of him.

Then Fred saw it. Half way across the field was the massive bovine, his horns glinting in the sun and his eyes glittering with intensity. Fred and Horace froze as he watched them for a second, and then slowly lowered his head, as he lifted a heavy hoof and scraped the dirt.

Then with a snort the bull advanced a few steps, then the walk became a lope and the chase was on!

“We’ll be okay if we can get to that fence.” Horace shouted over his shoulder at Fred as they hurtled across the pasture.

“I don’t know if we’re going to make it!” Fred puffed as they ran. “You’ve got to pray!”

“But I don’t know any prayers!” Horace stammered, his leg pumping furiously.

“You’ve got to!” Fred cast a quick glance back at the enraged bull. “We may not make it! Hurry!”

“All I know is the prayer my father used to say.”

“Say it!” With another quick glance behind him, Fred snapped

“Okay – Lord, for what we’re about to receive make us truly thankful!”

Fred was probably not thankful for what was about to happen but did you know that’s exactly what Christians are supposed to pray - that God asks us to be grateful for whatever comes. Wait a minute, you might be saying, I can understand being thankful for pleasant experiences but why would God ask us to be grateful for the unpleasant? That doesn’t make sense! Yet when you consider God’s reasons it makes perfect sense.

His reasons are simple – he wants us to be thankful for everything because when we’re grateful we’re not bitter, resentful or angry and since we’re thankful we can keep our minds open so we can allow him to work in us and through us. Also, that sense of accepting gratitude also helps us appreciate his loving provision and care during our difficulties.

So whether it’s a rampaging bull or just a minor daily struggle when we are grateful for whatever comes, we can also be open and trusting as he works in our lives.

The Unknown Foundation

When a British town council in the 1600s planned to rebuild their town hall, they wanted to employ the best talent and that meant the great Christopher Wren. Renowned for his success in rebuilding the great St. Paul’s Cathedral and much of London after the citywide fire of 1666, Wren was perhaps the best architect of his age. Yet despite his skill when he submitted his plans for the new project, the town authorities insisted on altering the design. While Wren called for pillars to support the roof the council wanted to add more. He tried to explain that the structure would be well supported with his design but the council wouldn’t listen. As the pressure increased on him, Wren finally agreed to construct the building, as they wanted with the additional columns.

Many years later when the building needed repairs and cleaning the workers discovered something interesting. Wren had indeed acquiesced to their demands for more pillars but not all of them actually supported the roof. For though he had indeed included the requested number of columns there was a very evident gap between the top of some columns and the roof. He had satisfied his critics but also completely vindicated himself.

That council probably never recognized how useless it was to insist on their own plans, and that’s something I have to recognize when I’m determined on following my own plans instead of concentrating on what God wants me to do. I can do this in several ways. For example, I might ignore him purposes completely and go off on my own. Or I might do part of what he wants, but finish it up with my own agenda. Or I might listen to his plans but then add new features I think will make the task work better.

Yet however, I do it, whether I ignore or add to his plans into his perfect plans I don’t really accomplish anything and I’m only wasting my time and His. So when I get the urge to add pillars then I need to remember that it will be his strong pillars that will support his plans – not my weak additions.

The Unknown Destination

“Tickets, please.” The railroad conductor started down the aisle.

With careful footing made necessary because of the rattle and sway of the train, he repeated his request as he reached out to get the tickets offered him from the passengers on both sides of the aisle. It was a regular routine of course, as he punched the ticket, returned it and moved on to the next passenger. The train was crowded since it was a Friday night route and many passengers who were either in business or government were heading home for the weekend.

Then as the conductor came up to a seat near the end of the car he recognized the passenger as a familiar white-haired, slightly bent figure in the dark suit who was concentrating on his newspaper. As the conductor came up, the man dropped his newspaper and began to search his pockets.

“Good evening, Judge.” The conductor smiled. “Do you have your ticket?”

“I’m afraid I can’t find it.” He said. “I seem to have misplaced it.”

“That’s okay, judge,” said the conductor, quite familiar with the man’s absentmindedness. “You can just mail it into the company when you find it.”

“No, it’s not that easy, I’ve just got to find it.” The judge insisted, as he continued to search his pockets. “I need to find it to know where I’m going.”

We may not actually be absent-minded, but sometimes we also may wonder where we’re going as we think about our spiritual progress. How about you? Where are you going? Are you striding forward in trust and confidence in God’s care and provision? Or are you slinking backward in trepidation and fear or worry at that might just happen, avoiding his attempts to re-direct you?

We certainly don’t need a ticket to indicate our direction when God is behind the trip. The destination and the arrangements are secure and perfect.

The Real Need

“So how does it feel to be a geek?” Harriett asked Mildred as they entered the dining room of their retirement center.” Have you triumphed over the new technology?”

Mildred chuckled at her friend’s teasing, but winced inwardly at the reference. “I’m afraid I’m far from a computer expert or geek – as the youngsters say. No, I’ve been having no end of trouble over that computer. I just can’t get it right!”

“Didn’t your son provide the whole setup?” Harriett asked.

“Yes, he said if I got a computer I could get into the Internet and order things without leaving home and that I’d enjoy being able to keeping touch with my friends and family by e-mail.”

“You didn’t want it?”

“Oh, I was willing to give it a try, but I wondered if it might not be too complicated. I’m not so good at learning new things.”

“Does your son know you’re having problems with it?”

“I’m sure he does. And it’s not as if he doesn’t understand computers. After all, he works with them all the time at his company. So he had one of his employees deliver the thing, set it up and show me how to turn it on. Then I asked the man to stay while I tried it out but he said he had to get back to work. Said if I’d just experiment I could learn how it worked or else get an instruction book.”

“So what’s the problem?

“I just can’t get it to do what it’s supposed to do. I’ve tried and tried but every time I think I get it right something goes wrong.” Mildred sighed. “I looked at some of the instruction books but I couldn’t read them – they were so complicated and confusing. I know I learn something new best when someone personally shows me how to do it. But when I call my son to come help me he says he’d like to but he’s swamped at work and can’t get away.”

“Maybe he should have sent better instructions.” Mildred suggested.

“No, “ Mildred returned. “It’s a wonderful gift but I don’t need better instructions to use it – I just need my son to come along with it!”

When God offered the gift of salvation to a sinful world, he didn’t send a set of instructions of how it was supposed to work. Instead, he sent his Son to not only demonstrate but to make it possible. Indeed, he didn’t just send instructions, but the Son came with the gift.

The Unspeakable Gift

Gordon closed the door to his office at the mission and turned to his paper-strewn desk. He knew what he would find – bills he couldn’t pay and letters of appeal. They were tangible evidence of Gordon’s hopeless situation and the mission’s ongoing challenges.

So many needs in his neighborhood and his biggest problem was the poverty that meant men could not find jobs, which meant hungry families. Also, sometimes he wondered if he was the only one who really cared about these people. Some had said he should seek government help but he wasn’t sure they’d even care. After all, before his recent death, the old king was known as an reprobate who was more concerned in maintaining royal protocol and traditions than his people.

Still to his surprise there had been one man who’d been concerned. This was a stranger who had come to the mission several months before, returned daily for a few weeks and then seemed to disappear. A young dark haired man with a scruffy beard and clad in worn garments, he’d helped in any way he could, but he also watched, listened and asked a few questions. A good deal of the time he had assisted in the mission clinic and spent numerous hours with the lonely elderly men there. Then he was gone

His memory finished, Gordon returned to his mail. As he sifted through the latest delivery, one particular envelope caught his eye. It was square, addressed in a flowing script and bore a gold tinged monogram. Reaching for a letter opener, he slit it open, and scissored out a folded sheet of the same heavy paper that made up the envelope. Then as he read, his eyes widened.

The next day Gordon found himself gazing at the massive wrought iron gates and high stone walls that fronted the royal palace. Fingering the gold monogram on the envelope, he stepped tentatively toward the guard post beside the gate. He had barely mentioned his name and displayed the envelope when one of the guards snapped to attention.

“Oh, yes, sir! We’ve been expecting you. Please follow me.”

Gordon fell in behind the guard who led the way across the wide paved courtyard to the main door of the palace. There they encountered a smartly dressed man who became Gordon’s escort into the palace. Together they passed innumerable staircases, down lengthy halls, past walls bearing elaborate paintings and statuary till they halted at an open door at the end of a hall. There another man escorted Gordon past a bank of desks each occupied by a man huddled over stacks of paperwork to another door. Then Gordon found himself in what appeared an empty room.

However, a second glance showed there was a few chairs as well as a massive desk at the far end of the room and then he saw a man had stepped out behind the desk and was coming toward him.

“Thank you for coming, Gordon.” The man stretched out a hand.

Gordon clasped it, then as he did so he recognized the features he’d seen recently in the press This was the new king Michael!

“Thank you for asking me, sir.” Gordon replied.

The king continued. “I asked you to here for two reasons, one of which was to renew our acquaintance.” Then he paused at Gordon’s unspoken question. “Oh, but we have met. Say, how’s old John? And how’s his broken arm? It was doing very well even though I still had to feed him there at the mission clinic.”

The king crossed to the desk to take a seat behind the desk and gestured for Gordon to take a seat opposite him.His mouth agape, Gordon lowered himself into the chair as the king smiled again. There was something familiar about him – and then he knew. The mysterious stranger, who had appeared at the mission, helped so many ways and become so personally involved – was the king! No one would have known about old John unless he had been there….

“Let me explain.” The king said. “I knew there were many needs in your neighborhood and I wanted to find out for myself exactly what they were and what could be done. I believed that your mission was the place to start so I found some old clothes, let my beard grow and showed up.”

Gordon was still too surprised to say anything.

“I became personally involved so I could understand your situation and now that I know what you need I intend to help you. I know you want to have the people help themselves so I intend to inform some of my friends to provide the resources to do just that.”

Gordon finally spoke. “That’s wonderful, sir, but why didn’t you just send someone on your staff to find out what we needed? You came in person – you got your hands dirty so to speak – you didn’t have to do that. I find it hard to believe that you – the king - came in person to learn about our needs and to provide what we needed.”

There was once another King who became personally involved with the needs of his people. Yet unlike most kings who help indirectly this king actually personally provided the remedy. For the need was salvation and the King was Jesus Christ.

Centering On The Reason

“Where’s the baby?” John asked Mary as he looked around the corner to where she was putting on her hat in front of the hall mirror. “I’ve looked all over and I can’t find him! We’ll be late to church.”

Mary smiled tolerantly. John was always getting so upset over little things and he was naturally anxious that everything go right that morning. After all, it was the first time they were taking the baby to church after his birth. Also, since John was the church’s popular pastor she knew there would be lots of members who wanted to see the baby. To add to the event, and also the hectic atmosphere, several family members had arrived to go with them to the church and at the moment they were in the dining room enjoying some last minute refreshments.

“You can’t lose a small baby, darling.” Mary told him. “He’s all ready to go and in his carrier. I put it on the bed in the front room.”

“But I looked in there and there’s nothing! Just a lot of coats.”

“Oh, my!” Mary raced down the hall to the front bedroom where half a dozen heavy coats stretched across the bed. She grabbed the garments, pulling them aside to uncover the baby seat and its occupant. Scooping him out of his seat, she cuddled the sleeping baby. At the sudden move, he squirmed, opened his eyes and yawned.

“What’s wrong?” John came in.

“When everyone arrived they just tossed their coats on the bed and apparently didn’t see the baby was there. He’s okay but it’s for a minute there the center of today’s celebration was all covered up!”

That’s often the way it is with the Baby that is the center of the celebration that we observe this month. Have we buried him under the innumerable customs, traditions, and cultural features we’ve added to the holiday? If we have then it means we have lost our focus and purpose for celebrating the season. Though we often say “Christ is the reason for the season” do we really make him so?

Realizing Our Dreams

How much he’d changed over the years! When they were first married he’d been so romantic and affectionate – and so impulsive. Like when he’d suddenly and expectedly come home early from work with a gift such as jewelry or flowers or to whisk her away for a romantic dinner. Then as the years passed, and as family and business responsibilities took over, the romantic gestures occurred less often. Mildred hoped that he might eventually become like he’d been, however, she was disappointed.

However, Joe didn’t see it as a problem and Mildred found that surprising. After all, he’d always prided himself on recognizing problems and solving them.

Then as Mildred continued to watch Joe drink his coffee, and read his paper, she decided to try a new tactic.

“Oh, Joe,” She tried a coaxing tone of voice. ”I had an strange dream last night.”

“Humm…” Came from behind the paper.

“Joe – I had a very curious dream last night.“ She reached across the table to stroke his arm with her finger. “I dreamed that you surprised me with a beautiful pearl necklace.”

He lowered his paper. “What did you say?”

“I said that I dreamed you surprised me with a pearl necklace. Now what do you think that means?”

The glare softened as his eyebrows lowered, apparently in thought. Then his lips turned a bit upwards. “Hmmm. That’s curious. I’m not sure what it means but maybe I can help you find out. I’ll let you know tonight.”

Mildred was exuberant! After he’d departed for the office, she began to plan how she’d welcome him home that evening. She didn’t really want a pearl necklace, but maybe it would inspire him to resume his previous romantic gestures. Maybe this would be the beginning of a new Joe!

That evening he arrived home later than usual that evening and as he removed his overcoat Mildred caught a glimpse of a wrapped package in his pocket. She could hardly contain her excitement as he turned from the closet.

“That dream you had was interesting and I got something that will help you understand it.” He told, her and with that extracted the package from his pocket and handed it to her.

With a surge of excitement Mildred took the package and unwrapped a book entitled “How to Interpret Dreams.”

Mildred certainly didn’t get the response she expected, and occasionally that happens to me when God doesn’t respond to my requests as I expected him to. This can happen for several reasons. Perhaps what I wanted wouldn’t have been suitable for me. Or maybe he had something better planned for me or occasionally he doesn’t grant my request but does fulfill the desire behind it.

Yet whatever his answers, though they may be unexpected, I know his responses are always faultless, demonstrating his perfect loving care and provision.

Beneath The Surface

Later he had an art expert examine the painting, and learned that while it was indeed a fake, the “ancestor” portrait was actually an over painting. This meant that the forger had taken an old canvas with another painting on it, and covered the old work with his forgery reasoning that the old canvas would assure the acceptance of the over painting as an original. The expert suggested Mr. Dupont have the surface work removed to reveal what was underneath, and when this was done there was found something unusual. Beneath the fake painting was a depiction of a Madonna and Child by the Spanish artist Murillo.

So as it turned out Mr. Dupont had spent $1000 for something of little value, but underneath was a masterpiece worth some $150,000. What was worthless on the surface had great unseen value.

Often it’s the same when we encounter someone we don’t consider of much worth. It might be a ragged stranger or even a co-worker or fellow church member but whoever it is we often have a tendency to reject the person when we look at the exterior the interior.

Yet God doesn’t think that way. For we know that he looks below the surface at the real person and what we don’t see he regards as of great value. Something priceless beneath the ostensibly worthless - it sometimes works for paintings and certainly for people where God is concerned.

The Follow Up

Guilty Or Innocent?