February 28, 2005
A beautiful passage in Proverbs says: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)
Words are powerful. They have the power to bless or curse. The Bible teaches us our words should be spoken carefully. One of the Ten Commandments deals with truth-telling, and Jesus warned that we will all one day give an account of “every idle word” we speak.
Have you ever wished your mouth had a backspace key? I have. Being blunt, or rude, is rarely, if ever, proper speech for Christians.
President Calvin Coolidge was known for his terse speech. A woman bet her friend she could get Coolidge to speak to her, which was something he was reluctant to do. "Hello, Mr. President, I bet my friend that I could get you to say three words to me." "You lose," Coolidge replied dryly, and walked away.
“You (we) lose” and run the risk of destroying years of good work, not to mention our Christian witness, with words “un-fitly spoken.”
James knew this well. In his epistle, he said the tongue, like the rudder of a ship or bridle in a horse mouth, has great power that we must harness, lest it become a raging fire.
Last night, a few miles up the road from San Diego, the movie industry awarded the Oscars. How about creating a new award, The Golden Apple, for folks who master their tongues? Personally, I would rather have the Golden Apple than an Oscar.
“Keep your words soft and tender, because tomorrow, you may have to eat them.” (Author unknown)
Breaking the “color barier” at Rosedale High
February 21, 2005
Dr. J. Y Trice is a Renaissance man, a Great Mississippian: educator, minister, statesman, and enabler. I will never forget the contribution he made to my life.
It was spring semester 1970 at Delta State College, my senior year. I was completing my Bachelor of Science in Education degree, and this was my semester for student teaching. The Dean called me to his office. I knew he had either very good or very bad news. “William,” he began, “we have a special request to ask you. We want you to do your student teaching at Rosedale High.” Without saying another word, I knew what the Dean was asking of me. You see, Rosedale High was 100% African-American. This was 1970, and most schools in Mississippi had not yet integrated, delaying the inevitable as long as possible. I would be the only Anglo among all the students and faculty at RHS that semester.
Rosedale sits near the Mississippi River, about half way between Memphis and Vicksburg in Bolivar County. I know Rosedale well. It is a lovely town, almost lost in time; a throwback to the Old South. Ante bellum homes adorn the city, cotton fields are still a major presence, magnolias line the roadways, and no one seems to be in too much of a hurry, especially in the hot Mississippi Delta sun.
In one moment, the whole “civil rights movement” became very personal. In a strange twist, it looked like I was going to “integrate” Rosedale High. I had observed from far too close the slayings of three civil rights students near Philadelphia, MS, and the assassinations of Medgar Evers in Jackson and Martin Luther King in Memphis. I had seen some of my fellow students stage “sit ins” to protest the war in Vietnam, blocking the college President from his office. Heck, I was no activist. I just wanted to “live and let live”.
My student teaching at Rosedale turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me, thanks to Dr. Trice, who, as Superintendent of Education, took me under his arm, smoothing the way, expecting the students and faculty to treat me with respect. They did. I only wish every student teacher could have had a Dr. Trice.
In another venue, a small black girl singly integrated a school in the Deep South amid the daily insults of white segregationists. Escorted to school by the National Guard, she looked down at the ground as she entered the school each day. One day, she stopped and looked up before continuing into school. A newspaper reporter, following the sensational story, asked the little girl why she looked up. “Every day as I go to school, I look down, because I am praying for all those people who hate me so much. Today, while I was praying, I heard God say ‘Look Up’. I looked up, and saw Jesus with his arms outstretched, and I knew everything was going to be alright.” Then she said, “I just wish those people who say such ugly things to me would just look up, and see Jesus, and know everything is going to be alright.”
Thank you, Dr. Trice, for helping me “look up”. I will think of you as I return this week to Yazoo City High School, my alma mater, and address the students and faculty in the New South…new, and better, because of leaders like The Rev. Dr. (Mayor) J. Y. Trice. And the little girl was correct; things are (finally) turning out alright!
Dr. J. Y Trice is a Renaissance man, a Great Mississippian: educator, minister, statesman, and enabler. I will never forget the contribution he made to my life.
It was spring semester 1970 at Delta State College, my senior year. I was completing my Bachelor of Science in Education degree, and this was my semester for student teaching. The Dean called me to his office. I knew he had either very good or very bad news. “William,” he began, “we have a special request to ask you. We want you to do your student teaching at Rosedale High.” Without saying another word, I knew what the Dean was asking of me. You see, Rosedale High was 100% African-American. This was 1970, and most schools in Mississippi had not yet integrated, delaying the inevitable as long as possible. I would be the only Anglo among all the students and faculty at RHS that semester.
Rosedale sits near the Mississippi River, about half way between Memphis and Vicksburg in Bolivar County. I know Rosedale well. It is a lovely town, almost lost in time; a throwback to the Old South. Ante bellum homes adorn the city, cotton fields are still a major presence, magnolias line the roadways, and no one seems to be in too much of a hurry, especially in the hot Mississippi Delta sun.
In one moment, the whole “civil rights movement” became very personal. In a strange twist, it looked like I was going to “integrate” Rosedale High. I had observed from far too close the slayings of three civil rights students near Philadelphia, MS, and the assassinations of Medgar Evers in Jackson and Martin Luther King in Memphis. I had seen some of my fellow students stage “sit ins” to protest the war in Vietnam, blocking the college President from his office. Heck, I was no activist. I just wanted to “live and let live”.
My student teaching at Rosedale turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me, thanks to Dr. Trice, who, as Superintendent of Education, took me under his arm, smoothing the way, expecting the students and faculty to treat me with respect. They did. I only wish every student teacher could have had a Dr. Trice.
In another venue, a small black girl singly integrated a school in the Deep South amid the daily insults of white segregationists. Escorted to school by the National Guard, she looked down at the ground as she entered the school each day. One day, she stopped and looked up before continuing into school. A newspaper reporter, following the sensational story, asked the little girl why she looked up. “Every day as I go to school, I look down, because I am praying for all those people who hate me so much. Today, while I was praying, I heard God say ‘Look Up’. I looked up, and saw Jesus with his arms outstretched, and I knew everything was going to be alright.” Then she said, “I just wish those people who say such ugly things to me would just look up, and see Jesus, and know everything is going to be alright.”
Thank you, Dr. Trice, for helping me “look up”. I will think of you as I return this week to Yazoo City High School, my alma mater, and address the students and faculty in the New South…new, and better, because of leaders like The Rev. Dr. (Mayor) J. Y. Trice. And the little girl was correct; things are (finally) turning out alright!
ThanksGiving
November 23, 2004
Thanksgiving is not an official day on the Christian liturgical calendar, but it should be. Of course, Thanksgiving as we know it is a relatively new (American) celebration, and is a day filled with wonderful traditions.
It is right and good that we should set aside a day of thanks-giving to Almighty God, Our Father, for all the blessings we enjoy. I am reminded that the Pilgrims, whose tradition we celebrate, suffered many toils, trials, and ordeals. They had more graves than homes; yet they paused to thank God for his divine and good Providence.
It would be easy to evoke pangs of guilt, for none of us say “thank you” to either God, family or friends as much as we should. I want to take the other approach, and offer encouragement for us to make this Thanksgiving a genuine expression of gratitude.
Henry Ward Beecher said it well, “The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!”
I want to thank God for Anita, Chris, Deanna, Tak, Kat, and Scot, and all my family back in Mississippi. I thank God for home and health and work. I also want to thank God for catfish, Orioles, flowers, the sun, the rain, Mississippi State sports (that taught me true humility), and yes, even the kudzu. I want to thank God for giving me a mustard seed of faith, and His Church. Most of all, I want to thank God for His Unspeakable Gift, his Only Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior; the Author and Finisher of my faith.
Last, but certainly not least, I THANK GOD FOR YOU!
Thanksgiving is not an official day on the Christian liturgical calendar, but it should be. Of course, Thanksgiving as we know it is a relatively new (American) celebration, and is a day filled with wonderful traditions.
It is right and good that we should set aside a day of thanks-giving to Almighty God, Our Father, for all the blessings we enjoy. I am reminded that the Pilgrims, whose tradition we celebrate, suffered many toils, trials, and ordeals. They had more graves than homes; yet they paused to thank God for his divine and good Providence.
It would be easy to evoke pangs of guilt, for none of us say “thank you” to either God, family or friends as much as we should. I want to take the other approach, and offer encouragement for us to make this Thanksgiving a genuine expression of gratitude.
Henry Ward Beecher said it well, “The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!”
I want to thank God for Anita, Chris, Deanna, Tak, Kat, and Scot, and all my family back in Mississippi. I thank God for home and health and work. I also want to thank God for catfish, Orioles, flowers, the sun, the rain, Mississippi State sports (that taught me true humility), and yes, even the kudzu. I want to thank God for giving me a mustard seed of faith, and His Church. Most of all, I want to thank God for His Unspeakable Gift, his Only Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior; the Author and Finisher of my faith.
Last, but certainly not least, I THANK GOD FOR YOU!
Life's Disguises (Beauty)
Monday, November 8, 2004
One of the latest “reality show” rages is the extreme makeover in which some rather common looking people (notice how diplomatically I said that) undergo facelifts, dental work, and tummy tucks to make them look more attractive. The popularity of these makeovers illustrates another of life’s disguises: the quest for beauty.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against “the beautiful people”. Of course, I’d rather be in that crowd than the other one, but sadly that train left the station a long time ago.
My old buddy T-Baby on Graball Hill used to say, “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes all the way to the bone. But then, who wants to have a beautiful pancreas?” Actually, T-Baby was on to something there, because what we think of as beauty is extremely superficial, and very temporal.
George Bernard Shaw said, “I hope you have lost your good looks, for while they last any fool can adore you, and the adoration of fools is bad for the soul. No, give me a ruined complexion and a lost figure and sixteen chins on a farmyard of Crow's feet and an obvious wig. Then you shall see me coming out strong.” My kind of guy! He reminds me of the old saying, “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!” However, I must say I have seen them come close on extreme makeover!
Isaiah 40:7-8 says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Some of the most beautiful people I’ve ever known were not particularly attractive. Yet, their inner beauty was magnetic. There was simplicity to their beauty. And that is the key: beauty is not gaudy, it is not superficial. Beauty is simplicity, as flower that is magnificent in its simple symmetry. Emerson said, “As we grow old, the beauty steals inward.”
Garrison Keillor, of Lake Wobegon fame and one of my favorite writers, once wisely said, “Beauty isn't worth thinking about; what's important is your mind. You don't want a fifty-dollar haircut on a fifty-cent head.”
“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (1 Chronicles 16:29)
One of the latest “reality show” rages is the extreme makeover in which some rather common looking people (notice how diplomatically I said that) undergo facelifts, dental work, and tummy tucks to make them look more attractive. The popularity of these makeovers illustrates another of life’s disguises: the quest for beauty.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against “the beautiful people”. Of course, I’d rather be in that crowd than the other one, but sadly that train left the station a long time ago.
My old buddy T-Baby on Graball Hill used to say, “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes all the way to the bone. But then, who wants to have a beautiful pancreas?” Actually, T-Baby was on to something there, because what we think of as beauty is extremely superficial, and very temporal.
George Bernard Shaw said, “I hope you have lost your good looks, for while they last any fool can adore you, and the adoration of fools is bad for the soul. No, give me a ruined complexion and a lost figure and sixteen chins on a farmyard of Crow's feet and an obvious wig. Then you shall see me coming out strong.” My kind of guy! He reminds me of the old saying, “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!” However, I must say I have seen them come close on extreme makeover!
Isaiah 40:7-8 says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Some of the most beautiful people I’ve ever known were not particularly attractive. Yet, their inner beauty was magnetic. There was simplicity to their beauty. And that is the key: beauty is not gaudy, it is not superficial. Beauty is simplicity, as flower that is magnificent in its simple symmetry. Emerson said, “As we grow old, the beauty steals inward.”
Garrison Keillor, of Lake Wobegon fame and one of my favorite writers, once wisely said, “Beauty isn't worth thinking about; what's important is your mind. You don't want a fifty-dollar haircut on a fifty-cent head.”
“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (1 Chronicles 16:29)
Life's Disguises (Peace)
October 25, 2004
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). Implied in what Jesus said is that “worldly peace” and “spiritual peace” are not the same thing.
I suspect almost everyone desires Peace (with the notable exception of terrorists, who thrive on the absence of Peace). As with all life disguises, many never achieve Peace because they are seeking Peace’s illusion. Here are some of those illusions:
Absence of Conflict. Do not make the mistake of equating Peace with the absence of conflict. From the moment we enter the world, life is a struggle to survive. The Prince of Peace found himself in constant conflict with religion, politics, economy and even his own family. There have been far too few years of peace on earth. Gustave Valbert reported that from the year 1496 B.C. to A.D. 1861, in 3,358 years there were 227 years of peace and 3,130 years of war, or 13 years of war to every year of peace. Within the last three centuries, there have been 286 wars in Europe. He added that from the year 1500 B.C to A.D. 1860 more than 8,000 treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were concluded. The average time they remained in force was two years. Mahatma Gandhi said, “An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” Those who seek worldly peace seem doomed to disappointment. However, I pray for Peace on earth every day.
Pacifism. Having said Peace is not the absence of conflict, I hasten to add Peace is not pacifism. In a utopian world, there would be no fighting. Yet, Genesis records that when only four people occupied this globe, (all members of one family), one brother killed another, and wiped out 25% of the world’s population in a single blow. I am reasonably sure Adam, Eve, Cain and Able were of the same race, the same religion (Methodists, I am quite sure), the same political party, and had the same economic standing. So what caused “the first war?” SIN; it seems to be within our nature to fight, to kill each other. What a sad and painful thing to admit! But sometimes, when evil assails, we must fight, or being overtaken by that evil. If being a pacifist would bring Peace, I would be a pacifist. As well intentioned as it may be, pacifism just doesn’t work.
Freedom from Concern. Another illusion of Peace is an escape from the concerns of life, or being “worry free”. I often hear people say “their problems” robbed them of Peace. Listen, the day your problems end is the day we put you in the ground. We have already said in this series that worry, or anxiety, is the opposite of Faith. There will always be concerns that demand our attention and our action. Jesus again is our example. While the boat was tossed by the midnight winds and his disciples were terrified, Jesus was calm, asleep in the center of the boat, in the center of the storm.
So what IS Peace? (1) Peace is that Christ-like calm in the midst of the storm, that inner sense of well being. It is not irrational fearlessness that denies danger. It is as Ethel Waters sang, “Why should I be discouraged…For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!” (2) Peace is the God-given sense of well being that enables us, as Jesus did, to overcome our fears and do the right thing, for the right reason, at the right time.
John Greenleaf Whittier well said, “Peace hath higher tests of manhood, Than battle ever knew.”
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). Implied in what Jesus said is that “worldly peace” and “spiritual peace” are not the same thing.
I suspect almost everyone desires Peace (with the notable exception of terrorists, who thrive on the absence of Peace). As with all life disguises, many never achieve Peace because they are seeking Peace’s illusion. Here are some of those illusions:
Absence of Conflict. Do not make the mistake of equating Peace with the absence of conflict. From the moment we enter the world, life is a struggle to survive. The Prince of Peace found himself in constant conflict with religion, politics, economy and even his own family. There have been far too few years of peace on earth. Gustave Valbert reported that from the year 1496 B.C. to A.D. 1861, in 3,358 years there were 227 years of peace and 3,130 years of war, or 13 years of war to every year of peace. Within the last three centuries, there have been 286 wars in Europe. He added that from the year 1500 B.C to A.D. 1860 more than 8,000 treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were concluded. The average time they remained in force was two years. Mahatma Gandhi said, “An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” Those who seek worldly peace seem doomed to disappointment. However, I pray for Peace on earth every day.
Pacifism. Having said Peace is not the absence of conflict, I hasten to add Peace is not pacifism. In a utopian world, there would be no fighting. Yet, Genesis records that when only four people occupied this globe, (all members of one family), one brother killed another, and wiped out 25% of the world’s population in a single blow. I am reasonably sure Adam, Eve, Cain and Able were of the same race, the same religion (Methodists, I am quite sure), the same political party, and had the same economic standing. So what caused “the first war?” SIN; it seems to be within our nature to fight, to kill each other. What a sad and painful thing to admit! But sometimes, when evil assails, we must fight, or being overtaken by that evil. If being a pacifist would bring Peace, I would be a pacifist. As well intentioned as it may be, pacifism just doesn’t work.
Freedom from Concern. Another illusion of Peace is an escape from the concerns of life, or being “worry free”. I often hear people say “their problems” robbed them of Peace. Listen, the day your problems end is the day we put you in the ground. We have already said in this series that worry, or anxiety, is the opposite of Faith. There will always be concerns that demand our attention and our action. Jesus again is our example. While the boat was tossed by the midnight winds and his disciples were terrified, Jesus was calm, asleep in the center of the boat, in the center of the storm.
So what IS Peace? (1) Peace is that Christ-like calm in the midst of the storm, that inner sense of well being. It is not irrational fearlessness that denies danger. It is as Ethel Waters sang, “Why should I be discouraged…For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!” (2) Peace is the God-given sense of well being that enables us, as Jesus did, to overcome our fears and do the right thing, for the right reason, at the right time.
John Greenleaf Whittier well said, “Peace hath higher tests of manhood, Than battle ever knew.”
Life's Disguises (Hope)
October 18, 2004
A few years ago, I had the great honor of serving as Chair of the Commission on Archives and History for the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. During that time, I compiled an encyclopedia of the 1200 Methodist churches in Mississippi for the bicentennial of Mississippi Methodism (1799-1999). I named the book, Mississippi United Methodist Churches: 200 Years of Heritage and Hope. During that bicentennial year, I spoke at many churches, and explored the depths of that word, “hope”. I found it to be an awesome, yet quite neglected, theological concept.
The Apostle Paul wrote the trilogy of abiding principles: Faith, HOPE, and Love. That places Hope in some select company. Love is “the greatest of these”, but Hope is the third side of the faith-love triangle that receives relatively little attention.
Let me share with you some of the common wisdom I discovered about Hope:
1. Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier. ~Author Unknown
2. Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them. ~Vincent McNabb
3. When the world says, "Give up,"Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."~Author Unknown
4. The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination. ~Marian Zimmer Bradley
5. You've gotta have hope. Without hope life is meaningless. Without hope life is meaning less and less. ~Author Unknown
6. Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark. ~George Iles
7. There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope. ~Baruch Spinoza
8. Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence. ~Lin Yutang
9. Some see a hopeless end, while others see an endless hope. ~Author Unknown (Put me in this group!)
10. And last, timely, but not least:
11. Once you choose hope, anything's possible. ~Christopher Reeve
I guess I practice hope, because in spite of having a hundred of those Mississippi Methodist books I still cannot give away, I wrote another one!
Hope springs eternal.
A few years ago, I had the great honor of serving as Chair of the Commission on Archives and History for the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. During that time, I compiled an encyclopedia of the 1200 Methodist churches in Mississippi for the bicentennial of Mississippi Methodism (1799-1999). I named the book, Mississippi United Methodist Churches: 200 Years of Heritage and Hope. During that bicentennial year, I spoke at many churches, and explored the depths of that word, “hope”. I found it to be an awesome, yet quite neglected, theological concept.
The Apostle Paul wrote the trilogy of abiding principles: Faith, HOPE, and Love. That places Hope in some select company. Love is “the greatest of these”, but Hope is the third side of the faith-love triangle that receives relatively little attention.
Let me share with you some of the common wisdom I discovered about Hope:
1. Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier. ~Author Unknown
2. Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them. ~Vincent McNabb
3. When the world says, "Give up,"Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."~Author Unknown
4. The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination. ~Marian Zimmer Bradley
5. You've gotta have hope. Without hope life is meaningless. Without hope life is meaning less and less. ~Author Unknown
6. Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark. ~George Iles
7. There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope. ~Baruch Spinoza
8. Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence. ~Lin Yutang
9. Some see a hopeless end, while others see an endless hope. ~Author Unknown (Put me in this group!)
10. And last, timely, but not least:
11. Once you choose hope, anything's possible. ~Christopher Reeve
I guess I practice hope, because in spite of having a hundred of those Mississippi Methodist books I still cannot give away, I wrote another one!
Hope springs eternal.
Life's Disguises (Faith)
October 11, 2004
A Tribute to Wayne Oates
When I attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, it was my great good fortune to learn from some of the greatest theologians and Bible scholars of the last century. That once proud and great institution has been reduced by the religious wars that continue in the Southern Baptist Convention. Among my teachers were Drs. Clyde Francisco, Frank Stagg, Harold Songer and Peter Rhea Jones.
Perhaps the most remarkable teacher I have ever had was Dr. Wayne Oates, whom many called the “Father of American Clinical Pastoral Care.” He coined the term “workaholic”.
Born into abject Carolina poverty, abandoned as an infant by his father, Wayne Oates saw faith and education as his pathway out of the chains that bound him. No more genuinely humble man walked this globe; nor any greater mortal. Three years after I graduated from SBTS, I needed assistance in counseling Green Bay football player who came to me for pastoral counseling. Quickly realizing I was in over my head, I called upon my mentor. Dr. Oates not only remembered me, he took time from his busy schedule at the University of Louisville and SBTS to assist me and co-counsel my parishioner. Wayne Oates didn’t get paid to do that; at least not in earthly dollars.
Dr. Oates, in his simple, yet profound manner, once said in a lecture: “Some people think the opposite of faith is DOUBT. The opposite faith is ANXIETY.”
Wayne Oates, the cotton mill child of Greenville, South Carolina, wrote 57 books. I recommend all of them, but especially two. One is “Anxiety in the Christian Experience”. The other is, “The Struggle to Be Free.” Do yourself a favor: track down a copy, especially the latter.
My favorite sage, “Author Unknown” said, “Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith.” She adds, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.” I think Wayne Oates would agree with that.
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. Do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.”
Now that’s faith.
A Tribute to Wayne Oates
When I attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, it was my great good fortune to learn from some of the greatest theologians and Bible scholars of the last century. That once proud and great institution has been reduced by the religious wars that continue in the Southern Baptist Convention. Among my teachers were Drs. Clyde Francisco, Frank Stagg, Harold Songer and Peter Rhea Jones.
Perhaps the most remarkable teacher I have ever had was Dr. Wayne Oates, whom many called the “Father of American Clinical Pastoral Care.” He coined the term “workaholic”.
Born into abject Carolina poverty, abandoned as an infant by his father, Wayne Oates saw faith and education as his pathway out of the chains that bound him. No more genuinely humble man walked this globe; nor any greater mortal. Three years after I graduated from SBTS, I needed assistance in counseling Green Bay football player who came to me for pastoral counseling. Quickly realizing I was in over my head, I called upon my mentor. Dr. Oates not only remembered me, he took time from his busy schedule at the University of Louisville and SBTS to assist me and co-counsel my parishioner. Wayne Oates didn’t get paid to do that; at least not in earthly dollars.
Dr. Oates, in his simple, yet profound manner, once said in a lecture: “Some people think the opposite of faith is DOUBT. The opposite faith is ANXIETY.”
Wayne Oates, the cotton mill child of Greenville, South Carolina, wrote 57 books. I recommend all of them, but especially two. One is “Anxiety in the Christian Experience”. The other is, “The Struggle to Be Free.” Do yourself a favor: track down a copy, especially the latter.
My favorite sage, “Author Unknown” said, “Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith.” She adds, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.” I think Wayne Oates would agree with that.
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. Do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.”
Now that’s faith.
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