October 8, 2017
Colossians 3:12-17, Page 198
Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with each
other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As
the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other. And over all these things put
on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. The peace of Christ must control
your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful
people. The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other
with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with
gratitude in your hearts. Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it
all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through
him.
******
Preface
A bit of an introductory note here as I begin. Over the past
several years I have come before you with several sermons recounting stories of
my childhood and Christian values important to me. The overall structure of the
writings is as letters to my children (when they are older), with the purpose
of explaining to them the kind of person I am, think I am, or that I hope to
be. I have done this by exploring Gods words and their Biblical context. Last
time we met, I gave you my perspectives on Love, Unity, Faith, and Courage; principles
I hold most dear in my daily faith walk. I now add two more key words that
arose on the basis of a recent conversation about a current article discussing
the problems with modern identity politics in America. This concept of “identity”
led to a basic, but rather personally profound question: What will my legacy be
and to what “identity” do I want to be remembered for? With considered reflection, the answer is
straightforward. We were created for a
purpose. That purpose is not left to chance or whim, but was determined by our
maker and written in our nature. Our purpose is to seek truth in order to
discover and to act on what is good and beautiful in this life. Love is what is good and beautiful. We
demonstrate this through the compassion of our heart and soul and our outward
acts of kindness towards others.
To My Children,
Beneath a silhouette moon crossing a cinnamon sky a great
river sweeps by, rolling over boulders etched and sculpted by the depths of
time. Beneath the rocks are the words of God, whispering timeless wisdom to all
who will listen. I stand by the river, a solitary fly fisherman waiting;
waiting with the simple hope that a fish will rise. With a four count rhythm, I
unfurl effortless casts; the perfect blend of physics, art, and grace. This is
the special place I go to reflect, to pray, to listen. I listen for the words
of God. If you listen carefully all your life, you too will hear and understand
God’s words.
The classic American novella, “A River Runs through it” by
Norman Maclean is widely regarded as the anthem of fly fishing in the American
west. The novella is a semi-autobiographical account of a Scots-Presbyterian
family, that has captivated readers with vivid descriptions of life along Montana's Big
Blackfoot River
and a near magical blend of fly fishing and family pains. The story reflects on
two brothers and their relationship with their minister father, the Rev. John
Maclean. The Rev. Maclean is a traditional Presbyterian minister of the early
20th century, dedicated to a breadth of education in religion, literature, and
of course fly fishing. Norman, the
eldest brother is characterized as responsible and cautious. Educated at far
off Dartmouth College,
Norman later goes on to a long career as a distinguished Professor of English
at the University
of Chicago. By contrast
Paul, the younger brother, is more individualistic, frequently testing the
limits of a rigid Presbyterian upbringing. Unlike his older brother, Paul
elects to attend college at the local University
of Montana in Missoula
and then goes on to work as a newspaper man in the nearby town of Helena. The brothers
collectively share a deep love and respect for their parents, their home, and
fly fishing.
However, all was not perfect in the Maclean family. While Paul
was an exceptionally gifted fly fisherman, a beautiful artist according to
father, his life was more so defined by a self-destructive and troubled nature
highlighted by profuse drinking, fighting, and gambling. Despite Norman’s
best efforts, the self-destructive behavior, designed for repercussion, led to
Paul’s untimely death when his was life was taken on the south side streets of Missoula.
Our modern world is full of examples of trials and tragedies
like that which took the natural art and beautiful life of Paul Maclean. Many
will easily relate to similar examples within their own “ordinary families” of
spiritual beauty and Grace marred by the ugliness of addiction, conflict, sin,
and death. As individual creatures of
God, we seek God’s Grace, yet we struggle with our own failings; we struggle to
reach out and help those around us that need it. Especially when they need it
the most. For some unknown reason it is those we live with and love and should
know, who seem to elude us the most. But what if we faced these struggles with
hearts with that overflowed with Christ-Like compassion and overwhelmed each
other with kindness?
Compassion is a key part of our Christian spirituality
encouraging us to sympathize and relate to the pain and suffering of others.
Relation of similar situations and common ideals motivate us to rise to the
occasion and seek to alleviate the pain and suffering felt by others. When
Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, He responded that it is to
love God with all our heart, mind and strength. But He added in Matthew
22:34-40 that the second commandment “is like it: 'Love your neighbor as
yourself’”. The Pharisee had asked Him which single command of God is the
greatest, but Jesus provided two, stating not only what we are to do, but also
how to do it. To love our neighbor as ourselves is the natural result of our
loving devotion toward God. The Bible is clear that compassion is an attribute
of God and of God’s people as well.
Let us then share our heartfelt compassion for others by
acting through kindness. Kindness is one trait which is characteristic of the
“Fruit of the Spirit” as discussed in Galatians 5:22. One who is kind is
friendly, generous, warmhearted, sympathetic, considerate, gentle, affectionate
and forgiving. But kindness is not something that you just are. Kindness is an
attitude of heart that must be demonstrated or practiced. It is an action, and
we learn to be kind by receiving kindness from others. Kindness to others
really matters when the recipient has the need, but we may not know where that
need may exist. So we should make it a natural part of our being.
Jesus demonstrated his compassion and taught us how to be
kind through His many acts of kindness towards others. Throughout his ministry
He supported the weak, healed the sick, comforted the bereaved, fed the hungry,
found and forgave lost sinners, and gave rest to those who were burdened, or
abandoned. Jesus taught us that the key ingredient in kindness is love. In 1
Corinthians 13:4 Paul tells us that “love is kind”. This must be true since
love by definition must seek the good will of another. Kindness is the
expression of that good will. This is true whether we speak of the kindness of
God toward man (Titus 3:4) or that of man toward man (Romans 12:10;
II Peter
1:7).
Plant the seeds of Compassion and Kindness in your life and
let God’s word flow through you like the waters of the world’s great rivers.
When you feel that there could be no pain greater than yours, look around you.
Recognize that someone before you has suffered greater. Know that someone after
you will suffer more. Reaching out, extending Compassion and Kindness to others
is never wasted. Do not undervalue the power of a kind word, a listening ear,
or the smallest act of caring. Simple things such as these carry God’s banners
of Grace and Peace and have the potential to turn a life around.
Let us depart our correspondence here with a familiar poetic
verse entitled One Solitary Life, adapted from a sermon originally written by
Dr. James Allen Francis in 1926.
“Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child
of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter
shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held
an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His
foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He
was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He
had no credentials but Himself...
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned
against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over
to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a
cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the
only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was
laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Twenty long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a
centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that
ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that
ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected
the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.”
That is Jesus’ Legacy. Ask yourself if you have compassion
in your heart? Do you act on this compassion with kindness toward all those you
encounter? What will your legacy be?
Amen!
