LESSONS

 Mark 12:38-44

12:38 As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,

12:39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!

12:40 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

12:41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.

12:42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.

12:43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.

12:44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

I am guilty of comparing and competing.  

Maybe it is characteristic of the yougest child....I notice and compare and then if need be it's game on.  

Both comparing and competing are disruptive to maintenance of the harmony of a community. Either one notices the wrongs of another and arrogantly proclaims, "Well, at least I didn't do that!  I'm not that bad."  Or, we notice and compete --- "I can do that and do that soooooo much better...."

I think one's insecurity is foundational to both behaviors. My seminary experience was a journey to find myself, know myself and be consistent in being myself. To my mother's horror on my first dull day of seminary classes I wore a Freeport Volleyball sweathshirt with the words "KILL" (a term for a spike) emblazoned on the front. Admittedly this was not a wise fashion decision. Clearly, I did not put in a lot of thought to my wardrobe; I wanted to be comfortable and signify where I was from. My intimidation of starting seminary (You sure you called the right one???) lead me to fall back on the familiar...my hometown, blue jeans and a sweatshirt. 

Before the start of every class, the seminary president would ask a different student to open with prayer.  It was random, one could not prepare for it...just pray when asked. There were classmates who when called  upon to pray used a deeper and louder voice than normal and intoned multi-syllabic words that would warrant major point totals in Scrabble. It were the more grounded and self-assured students whose prayers were simple, heartfelt, real. 

In the early 1990's my first appointment to a church as an Associate Pastor provided
me the opportunity to journey with a congregation through a church building campaign. We hired a consultant to offer guidance and direction. He suggested finding major donors who would be willing to purchase a sound system or several pews or the construction costs for building a new class room. When those donors and their dollars came in "recognize them, honor them!" he directed.

I am one who is much more comfortable with the "Joe and Jane Bag-of-Donuts" types of people...the blue jean wearing, shower-after-work, have a beer and a hot dog and swear freely if the occassion warrants. Pat was a faithful member of the congregation who helped out with Rally Day and the children's ministry program. Her husband was disabled and they lived on a very limited income. One Sunday following worship Pat pulled me aside and handed me an envelope. "Open it now," she said. Pat beamed as I opened the envelope. Inside was a personal check for $25. "I love this church. You all have helped me through so much. I want the church to have this to help with the new buidling."

Knowing Pat's story, I knew for her this was a lot of money.  She gave from the foundation of her love for her church.  A couple of weeks later at a meeting of the building committee the consultant asked us to name donors who had stepped up and whose stories should be recognized.  The senior pastor named a couple of families who donated significant sums of money. When those donations were shared there was the "ooohs" and "ahhhs" from the committee. I sat quietly.  I shared Pat's story. The reaction was a few smiles and head nods. "So, let's recognize a different big giver family each of the next several Sundays," said the consultant, "and I'm confident other wealthy families will step up as well. Call it, good ol' capitalism competition." 

Troubled by this, I said, "I think we should recognize and honor Pat. She'd love it! She never gets the recognition. And, her gift embodies the widow's mite, that's the spirit of giving we should be highlighting."

Pat was not recognized. I was disillusioned. I would leave that church for another appointment before the building project was completed. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

 

This is a grand day for children! Halloween captures two of kids favorite things: dressing up, playing pretend and candy. After these times in which we journey, I really feel for the children not understanding what is happening and aware of the major change in their routines.  I look forward to all the ghouls and goblins (kid variety of course...) who will knock on my door this evening. 

As is the case with most holdays, I think of my mom.  Her Halloween Treat bags were

legendary. In her memory, I also make impressive treat bags....just ask the kids in my neighborhood who remarked to their buddies, "You guys must go here!  This house is stacked!" 

For the trick-or-treaters who visited our family house, there was no rush nor hurry.  To each child (the majority of whom were relatives) my mother would exclaim, "Oh! Who are you? I know! You're Ethel Merckenschmitt." (or some other crazy name...). The kid would laugh. Mom would offer another goofy name....child laughs....and this went on for several minutes per child...each child...every child.

Mom always knew the reason for the holiday and maintained the WHY of all of it....children.  Trick-or-Treat was all for the kids.  Come to think of it, so much of what mom did was for children...her own (blessed be) and all those whom she rocked and fed and celebrated. Lesson learned and lived;

Well done decoration

 

Apparently the must-have decoration for the 2021 Halloween season is the 12-foot skeleton. I heard on NPR that persons have paid as much as $90 per skeleton on the black market.....yowzers, that's a lot of bones......

A neighbor on the street behind me previously deorated with great webbing and giant spiders over the porch light and railings finishing the scare by having two large eyes looking out of the two windows on the top floor.  It was so well done that last year I sent them a note of appreciation.

This year when I drove past the house the decorations had changed.  The above photo is this year's offering. I thought it was "cool" and "creative" and referred to the decoration as the "Pumpkin King."

It was a few days later that I got it!  I understood what my brilliant neighbor was going after with this decoration.......do you get it???  Think for a minute.....

The decoration is the GREAT PUMPKIN!  Well done, very well done!  

The classic PEANUTS show IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN tells us the Great Pumpkin chooses the most sincere pumpkin patch from which he rises and then provides toys to all the children. Yet, he never provides information as to what the great pumpkin looks like. I offer the above photo as I feel it presents a strong example of a regal squash.......