Jesus is Calling

From Genesis

"Adam. Where are you?

"I heard your voice in the garden and was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself."

Good question.  Where are you?

Many of us, especially those with children ask the same question.  "Where are you?"  And those with children will be familiar with the answer.  "I'm here."  

However, in the garden, we have an entirely different situation.  God, who knows all things, who knows the number of hairs on our head, who knew us before we were born, no doubt knows where Adam is.

While we can never know what is on the mind of God, we must wonder, why call?  In our limited understanding, the only thing we can assume is because He wanted Adam to answer.

And so it is in our lives.  Many times God calls us:

"If at first you hear him call, harden not your hearts." 

Jesus calls on the disciples to follow him.

Jesus calls out to Lazarus. 

Jesus calls out to His Father, Abba. Abba. Why have You forsaken me?

Many times Jesus calls on us.  But not as often as we call on Jesus.

Several years ago, I began volunteering at the Salvation Army: In the food pantry, to shovel snow, to unload a truck, and eventually my Captain invited me to volunteer as a Bell Ringer.  It is all easy enough.  I live ninety seconds from the Corps.  I have the number in my phone.  When I receive a call, I see Army in the window.  And many times I've been tempted to change Army to Jesus.  Why? Because 

Jesus is calling.

As the Captain has said on several occasions, Jesus puts us where He wants us.  And there is no Earthly reason for me to be where I am.  And the calls come.

We all remember the words, whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.  And we always hear the admonition in our heads.  Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, heal the sick... "honour God with what goods you have and give always first fruits to God.  Though few of us have barns and vats, and few of us if any slaughter fatted calves, the message is clear.  As you measure out so will it be measured unto you.  However, there is another side to giving.

At this point, let us look at the story of the widow's mite.  The widow gives to Jesus all that she has.  

And Jesus exalts her.  This woman has given more than any of you.  You gave from the excess of your largess.  This poor woman gave all that she had.

True.  But what finally struck me, on day is that Jesus took it.  Jesus did not say, You keep it.  He did not say you need it more than I do. He took it.  And praised the widow before all present.

What made me think of this was the day a local company sent two of its senior people to volunteer at the Food Pantry.

As I was doing my routine duties, carrying groceries out to people's cars, they would ask, "Can we help?" And I would say, "Thank you, but that's all right. I've got it."  Then, the woman who coordinated the activity came to me and said, nicely, but still, let them do something.  And I did. And as they brought groceries out to the cars, I began to break down the cardboard boxes to bring them to the recycling bin. And they asked to help again.  And I let them help again.  This, because of a lesson I learned in my teens.

For several years, I was a member of a Youth Fellowship Group.  Eventually, we graduated High School and left for college.  Then we had a reunion.  The new Youth Minister hosted the even at his home.  Potluck.  And I brought something in a casserole.  When we were clearing up, I went into the kitchen to help by washing the casserole.  And the Minister's wife rebuked me.  "Cleaning up is my gift." 

This is something I'd never heard anyone say before.  This is my gift.  I felt rebuked, yes, but also, I felt a bit ashamed.  I was taking away her gift.  Just as I denied the volunteers to help at the pantry.

When the discussion about poverty began to go public on radio and television, some professionals said, one of the greatest hardships of poverty is not what people don't have.  It's what people can't give. What the poor can't give to their children, to their parents, siblings, spouses.  Whenever we think about this, we routinely think of Christmas.  The reason for that is because we usually think of these things only during the Christmas season.  But giving is more than almsgiving.

One of the passages in the Bible that I would have had trouble with had I been a disciple is when Jesus washes the Apostle's feet. I can hear myself now,  "That's okay, Jesus.  Not necessary.  I brought a pail of water with me. It's outside.  No need."  And I can hear Jesus, "Get thee behind me Satan.  I'm trying to do something here. Something important.  I'm trying to teach an important lesson:  The last shall be first and the first shall be last. And the greatest among you will be the servant to all."

And this reminds me that there are still those who have little or nothing to give.

Jesus tells us, if you are having a feast, don't invite your family and your wealthy friends.  They can invite you to their homes to repay you.  Instead, invite the poor, the lame, the sick...those who have no means to repay you.  You give them "meat and drink" to add a Dickensian flavour to the event.  But what can they do for you.  Nothing, as Jesus points out.  Because you seek not to be repaid.  it is not about you.  It is about others.

When giving alms, do so in secret.  Never let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. And the Father who sees you giving in secret will reward you openly.  Indeed.  But remember: the gift of dignity.

If you drop a pencil, someone will pick it up.  You will say, thank you.  You won't say, just leave it. I can get it.  If someone opens a door, you say, thank you.  You don't say, just leave it.  I can get it.  What a sharp rebuke to someone doing the smallest kindness.

As Easter approaches, and not too long after, when Christmas is upon us, let us remember that those who have little or nothing to give, do have a hidden need.  A need to give.  Let us never be so uncharitable that we refuse to except the kindness and the gestures of those who can't repay others.


You have a blessed day and a blessed week.

May God bless us all.


Sincerely,

Slim


N.B.  I do not have a Church, nor am I head of a charitable or non-profite organisation, nor a minister, and I never solicit donations or contributions and have no mechanism for same.  If anyone calling himself Slim Fairview asks you to send a donation, it is not me. It is an imposter. Don't do it.


Please, for the sake of those in need, please give only to recognised Churches and recognised non-profit organisations. It is not about me. It is about others.

For that, please click the link:  Salvation Army Week.


Thank you.


Slim.