Brother, please lay down your stone!

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."  Galatians 6:1 KJV (Italics added)

Two of my favorite accounts in the Word of God are the found in John Chapter 8 and in Luke Chapter 15.  Two of the most beautiful illustrations of forgiveness, love and grace in all of recorded literature!  It is said that Charles Dickens commenting on the story of The Prodigal Son said it was the greatest short story ever told.  He was no slouch at story-telling himself.  We know these two accounts to be more than just stories or a parable of course...they are the preserved for us in Holy Scripture!

I find myself draw to the characters of both accounts in much different ways than I did as a younger man.  I do not wish to be preachy, judgemental or in any way set myself up as any authority on the subject.  My aim is simply to sound a cautionary note to those in the family as Galatians 6:1 illustrates.

As a young man, I identified more with the older brother of Luke 15 than with the wasted life of the younger son.  I would never forsake my heavenly father and live simply for pleasure and my own selfish desires!  Looking back, of course now, I know that I did exactly that.  I have experienced both parts and can understand the reluctance of those who never forsook the Father, to rejoice in my reinstatement to His loving embrace!  The thought occurs to me, that not everyone is happy to see the penitent soul return and it may be one reason why some do not. 

The adulterous woman in John 8 was the object of pity and yes scorn in my youth.  If you break God's commandments, you deserve to be punished!  I prided myself that I would never fall into that sin and gripped the stone I held in my legalistic fingers ever so tightly!  Now, however, that I am the beneficiary of being lifted out of that same dust, I have only gratitude in my heart that I am not condemned my gracious Lord.  I must heed his admonition to repent and go and sin no more. In light of the Lord's grace extended to my life, dear brother can you forgive me too and please lay down your stone?

             Crushed by sin, my substance wasted,

                  cast down in shame, no hiding place.

            Awaiting stones thrown in condemnation,

                 yet, the Master sheds his grace!

           Will you not rejoice with me, my brother,

                though I left you at the plow alone?

           Knowing I don't deserve our Father's mercy,

                brother please forgive and lay down your stone! 

Sad, But True Geezer Tale #3

No self-respecting geriatric would ever claim mature geezerhood without acknowledging some valuable training in our formative years!  One of my early experiences, while being on staff of my home church in El Paso, Texas proved to be an invaluable lesson. 

Shortly after graduation from Bible College, I  was given the honor of being hired to be the Bus Director of a fleet of seven buses. This ministry was charged with the privilege of picking up children for Sunday School.  In addition to those duties, I was also given a class of third graders to teach. 

Our fleet consisting of old school buses and one diesel Greyhound, though maintained as well as possible, still had seen their better days.  One fateful Sunday, while attempting to park one of these yellow chariots, I drove right into the side of our brand new Gymnasium!  Bricks went flying everywhere as I plowed into this beautiful edifice!  I am writing this some 37 years after the incident, but I still maintain my innocence...I pushed the brake pedal to the floorboard, but there were no brakes!  I thought my brief career was over, I would certainly be fired.  No insurance company would pay for the repairs since the same company covered both the bus and the building.

I am happy to report that the dear people of Cielo Vista Park Baptist Church took up a love offering to repair the breach.  The pastor forgave me and a dear brother stepped up and relayed how he had driven that same bus returning from his route one Sunday and as he went to stop, the bus continued on through a stop sign...no brakes...thanks Bro. Nelson Pritz.  In time, people even thought off the incident in humorous terms.  It seems I had accidentally smashed right into the classroom of my own third graders.  The going joke was that since our class was growing, I could have devised a better way to expand the space than to ram it!  They even composed a song in my honor at the annual Christmas Banquet...how Adrian had "driven ole' yeller bus right through the wall."  So you see, I had an early propensity for my oncoming geezerhood.      ...Sad, but true!

Sad, But True Geezer Tale #2

While working for a packaging company in the late 80's, my boss teamed me with a rep from one of our suppliers.  Our assignment was to demonstrate our line of packaging materials from a booth during a business expo being held at the El Paso Civic Center.  It soon became apparent that the primary purpose of my new compadre was not so much to promote his product line, but rather to use the occasion to admire the selection of ladies who had the misfortune to wander near our area.  Since I had been recently divorced, I had no such aspirations of course...it was business and only business for me!

During the events of the afternoon and in an effort to be an amiable host, I tried to assist in my amigos' efforts to make new friends.  It was at this point that I glimpsed an attractive, very nicely attired blond just across the aisle from our lair.  That she was attractive was evident, despite the fact she had her back turned to us.  In an attempt to impress my friend with my discernment, I began to elbow him to draw his attention to this vision of feminine loveliness.  He gave a quick nod of acknowledgement and enthusiastic approval at our good fortune.  Here, indeed was the best prospect of our whole day!

It was only moments later that this beautiful creature turned and glimpsing us, she not only smiled, but started walking in our direction.  Roy Orbison's song Pretty Woman had to have been inspired by just such an encounter!  It was only as she drew closer, that I, with red-faced embarrassment, sheepishly introduced my colleague to my gorgeous EX-WIFE! 
            
                ...sad but true...I've got to get my eyes examined...  
 



Sad, But True Geezer Tale #1

I just happen to have great neighbors, you know like in those State Farm commercials.  They have to always be vigilant in order to bail me out of the frequent misadventures I seem to be involved in.  One recent "geezerism" will serve to illustrate my point.

My wife's Honda finally gave-up the ghost and she used her feminine wiles to hijack my Altima to go to work. I was left home on a Saturday without transportation or chips, so I approached my neighbor of twelve years, Mr. Jones (real name) to borrow one of his pick-ups to run a couple of quick errands.  I was hoping to borrow the older pickup which was kind of a "beater" compared to his nice, new Chrysler.  Well he didn't hesitate to give me the keys to the newer one, despite my objections and I was off on my quest for a new cartridge for my thirsty ink-jet printer.

Since I had my neighbor's nice truck, I locked it and went inside Staples to apply for the loan I would need to make my Epson inkjet cartridge purchase!  I returned to the parking lot a few minutes later, reached into my pocket and produced the fancy key faub needed to regain entry to my ride.  To my irritation, no amount of pressing of the key faub or trying  the keys in the door, helped me to open the door!  Simple, I'd just use my cell to call Wally for an explanation and he'd better have a good one.  Much to my chagrin, I had left my phone at home and after  trying the doors again, I knew I would have to walk home and confront my friend.  To say the distance between Staples and our street was something like the distance between Marathon and Athens, might be a slight exaggeration.  I think I lost a few pounds on the walk inspired by the example of Kirstie Alley on the Jenny Craig Diet!

During my forced  march home, I tried running through all the scenarios as to why the key didn't open a truck I had just driven a few minutes prior.  How callous of my neighbor to just not let me borrow the old truck that I wouldn't need to lock or even use seatbelts in!  When I finally reached his driveway and knocked on his door and told him my sad tale of woe, I probably sounded somewhat indignant at my plight.  He took one look at the keys I tried to press into his hands and calmly informed me that those weren't the keys to his fancy vehicle! How was this possible?  I was at a loss!  I then reached into my pockets and eureka, his keys emerged.  I swear, he could barely stifle that grin as he handed me back my own key faub, house and car keys!

Oh yea, he was then kind enough to give me a ride in the old beater pickup back to the parking lot to rescue his vehicle.  He swore to never speak of this again!   ...sad, but true!   

Forgiveness

This photo was taken recently at a very quiet and peaceful Chapel located some 35 miles or so from my home.  The scene evokes so many conflicting feelings every time I visit what has become for me a serene place to reflect.  Not unlike the cross itself, when you think about it.  A cross, both a symbol of torture and death employed by the Roman Empire to keep their slaves in line and for the believer, the emblem of sacrificial love!  We speak of reaching the crossroad or arriving at the crux of the problem as examples of its use in everyday conversation.  The scene on Golgotha nearly twenty centuries ago still portrays the choice we face today.  The sacrifice of God's Son still divides the believer from the unbeliever as it did the two men who hung on either side of him that day.  The cross confers upon us a great gift...forgiveness! 

I may be misquoting the Don Henley lyrics "...what are all these voices just outside love's open door, that make us put off our contentment and long for something more..."  &  he goes on to say, "I'm talking about forgiveness...".  Some 32 years ago I didn't even recognize contentment when I already had it and sought something more.  The repercussions of my betrayal can not be measured this side of eternity!  The thing I have been seeking both from a God whom I have offended and the family I deserted, is ...forgiveness.  Forgiveness from those dear people I was responsible for protecting, leading and influencing and God, whose principals I had violated. That's the crux of my problem, even today, these many years later.  

I know God is merciful and forgives the repentant heart.  I know that to "err is human and forgive divine".  Why then do I feel that when I seek that forgiveness with all the sincerity of my heart, do I feel it is all to no avail?  A Christian author that I respect immensely made the statement that "There is nothing we can do to make God love us any more.  There is nothing we can do to make God love us any less."  The Cross demonstrates the lengths God went to show His love and offer His forgiveness to us!   I can not fathom the depth of God's grace, but I wish to plunge myself in its depths!  Forgiveness...