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11 January 1998
Today we finish our short Rules of the Road Series. We begin with a fifth Rule of the Road for 1998, it is a brief lesson taught by a 5-year-old.
"What does it mean to magnify the Lord?" the father asked.
His teenage daughter said, "It means to honor him in sincere worship."
"That's right. Any other ideas?"
Finally, his 5-year-old son yelled out with childish enthusiasm, "To magnify the Lord means to make him bigger in your life." (1)
Isn't that a great Rule of the Road for 1998: to make the Lord bigger in our lives? Last week we revisited some Rules of the Road shared just a year ago by Brad. Look again at those 4 items through the wisdom of our 5-year-old.
1998 will be marked by our willingness to understand in a "bigger way" that "God makes all things work together for good for those who love him."
1998 will have us take a closer look at the road of life while at the same time we develop a farther vision that sees all the way to our heavenly home.
1998 will see us make a bigger place in our lives for God, who is in our world, in our village, in our very lives, and,
1998 will be the year we have a "bigger" understanding of how much God is on our side, how high and deep and wide is God's love for us.
Make the Lord bigger in your life in 1998. Now let's add just 3 more Rules of the Road as we launch ourselves into this new year.
As we strive to make the Lord bigger in our lives, let us talk with God everyday. If we already do this, let's talk more. If we haven't quite motivated ourselves to talk with God, let's find a way to start. Talking with God, of course, is prayer. Our Rule of the Road is to find ways to pray everyday, in every place, in every circumstance.
Conversation with God need not be tedious. Again, let our children point the way. When asked about possible prayers uttered by Daniel as the hungry lions approached him, we listen to the children:
"God, there isn't time for a long prayer. So I'll just say `HELP' and I know you will get the message." (Howie, age 8)
"Please forgive my sins and make the lions have good hearts." (Margaret, age 6)
"Dear God, please make the lions' teeth fall out real fast. Amen." (Dani, age 7)
"Heavenly Father. . . I'm in a little trouble and it's going to take a miracle to get me out of this one." (Clare, age 10) (2)
Short prayers, sometimes called Arrow prayers, keep us connected with God, help us make the Lord bigger in our lives and remind us of God's presence and God's love that grace our lives no matter what. For example, do you ever wake up worrying about some thing or other? Do you ever worry during the day about this or that? We all worry, don't we? Let a wise woman help you keep the Rule of the Road to pray often and to break the cycle of worry:
"Worry is a substitute for prayer," according to author Nancy Corbett Cole. Her advice: "Don't worry. Pray things through." (3) What could be simpler?
Worried about being late for your appointment? It's a perfect time for prayer—pray for peace of mind and heart; pray that God would bless those who wait for you, especially if they might be worried about you; pray for God's forgiveness, a gentle reminder that you are loved not because you are perfect, but because that is how God is, loving and kind; pray for inspiration (no, not for an inspired excuse but) that you might find better ways for organizing your time and commitments. And so on.
Worried about your health or the health of one you love? Make conversation with God—let the time of worry become a time of prayer. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for physicians and nurses and technicians and all who work with you and care for you; offer thanksgiving for God's presence in your life even while you are not at your best; pray for those who suffer and worry as you do; pray again for peace of mind and heart in the midst of things you might not understand; pray that you can rest in God's arms for a while; pray that God will indeed ease your burden, carry the heavy load for you for a while. Do not worry, pray things through. It will take the same amount of time, but will leave you so much more profoundly refreshed.
But I must leave some of you with a warning as you worry less and pray more. Surprisingly, Billy Graham shares a bit of wisdom about prayers not answered as we move on: "The only time my prayers are never answered," he says, "are on the golf course." So golfers, beware, but never stop praying.
Our next Rule of the Road draws inspiration from Mother Teresa and Ann Landers. Let no day end without doing some act of kindness. Again, this need not be tedious, or a burden, or even solemn. Acts of kindness can have humor, lightness, and be just plain simple. The act of kindness can be as simple as a smile. Smiles don't take a lot of planning, a lot of time, a lot of energy. And they fit nicely into our other Rules of the Road. One way we make a bigger place for God, for God's love in our life is by being kind and loving like our Lord. A smile sets us on the way.
"Smile at each other," says Mother Teresa, "smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at each other—it doen't matter who it is—and that will help you grow up in greater love for each other." (4) There is no doubt that Mother Teresa practiced what she preached. A smile is such a simple act of kindness that bears such lovely fruit.
Other simple acts of kindness were outlined by Ann Landers in one of her first columns of the new year. I will highlight some of her suggestions as it will help us make the Lord bigger in our lives as we practice acts of kindness:
Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Share a funny story with someone whose spirits are dragging.
Give a soft answer instead of a harsh one. Encourage some youth to do his or her best. Share your experience [with a young person], and offer your support.
Find the time to be kind and thoughtful. "I'm too busy" is a lame excuse. All of us have the same allotment—24 hours [each] day. Return those books you borrowed. Reschedule that missed dental appointment. If you see litter on the sidewalk, pick it up instead of walking over it.
Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look 10 years younger. Don't be afraid to say, "I love you." Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world. And remember—if you have love in your life, it can make up for a lot of things you don't have. (5)
Let no day end without doing some act of kindness.
Let me set the stage for our final Rule of the Road with a short story from another large church. Pastor John Ed Mathision of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church writes, "Recently I was walking down the hall on a Sunday morning and stopped by a children's Sunday school class. They had a little plastic church building that they used to collect their offering. I was fascinated by the the toy and picked it up to look at it. Very quickly one of the little boys said, "Be careful, John Ed, you have our church in your hands." That statement both inspired and intimidated me. In a larger sense, God has entrusted the church in our hands. What an awesome opportunity!"
In 1998 we will focus upon the task of calling a new Rector to our parish. We all must be involved in the calling of a new Rector. Our "near look" at the road of life shows us that we must call a new Rector, there is no other way. Our previous Rules of the Road will help us keep a "far vision" and prove themselves helpful in the Calling Process. Your Vestry, your clergy, your staff, ask you to be involved in the call of a new Rector as our final Rule of the Road for 1998.
The Vestry has appointed a Calling Committee. Since we all cannot serve on that Committee, our way of involvement will center on God: Remember? "God makes all things work together for good for those who love him." Remember the Rabbi's important announcement? "There is a God in the world." Find ways to make God bigger in your life; let no day end without your act of kindness; and most especially let that act of kindness be in the form of prayer.
Pray for our Calling Committee. Pray for the members by name (we will provide these for you next week). Pray that as they sift through the information given them, they will allow the Holy Spirit to direct them to the candidate already chosen by God to be our next Rector. Pray for our Vestry who vote and issue the call to serve on our behalf. Pray for this candidate—pray that this person will hear God's call, God's choice clearly, and come to serve us and this parish for God's glory. Use the prayer card that is in your bulletin (and we have additional cards in the Narthex), use your own words, use another prayer that you like better, but do not let a day pass that you do not involve yourself through prayer in this important work of our church. Amen.
(2) from David Heller's book, Just build the ark, the animals will come
(3) Nancy Corbett Cole in Tapestry of Life, Book 2, quoted in The Newsletter Newsletter, June, 1997
(4) Mother Teresa quoted in The Newsletter Newsletter, August, 1997
(5) Ann Landers Column, January 2, 1998
The Rev. Daniel Rondeau
drondeau@stmargarets.org
11 January 1998