St. Luke's Blogs

There is a great joy that comes when we are nice to others.  When I am able to give to someone in need, or perform a kind deed that blesses another person, it makes me feel good.  There are few things that lift my spirits like serving others. The thing that brings my spirit down is when things seem out of my control.  These days it seems like so much is out of our control. COVID, politics, the economy, and how my favorite sports teams are performing are all things that are beyond my control.  These difficult times can really test our patience and our kindness.  It is not as easy to be kind when it feels like so many things are out of our control.

Last July, I told you the story of Captain Tom Moore. You may remember that Captain Moore was honored by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on the lawn at Windsor Castle in Berkshire in England. It was the first time that a small, social-distanced Royal investiture took place. Queen Elizabet II welcomed Captain Tom Moore to Windsor Castle and confirmed on him the title of Knight Bachelor.

This past Sunday, during the traditional worship service from the St. Luke’s Downtown campus, we were treated to a beautiful version of the hymn “Love Lifted Me.” As the choir began to sing, I found myself singing along. My mind was taken back to the churches of my childhood and youth. I could hear the voices of my childhood singing the beautiful words. Although I was hosting the worship service in my office at home (as I am writing this devotional, my family and I are working to overcome COVID-19), I felt like my voice was joining with so many as we sang the familiar refrains.

The description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is a beautiful message.  This is why it’s read at important events like weddings or scripted on many decoration items.  Phrases like “Love is patient and kind” and “Love does not insist on its own way” or “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” show us a wide landscape of the important characteristics of love.  The words are poetically written and give us something to hope for and to strive for in our relationships with others.  While it can easily be read aloud at a special celebration of love or hung on a wall, living out these phrases is not quite as easy.

Shonda Lemon is a wonderful example of what it means to work hard, but care for people.  Shonda is a mail carrier in Chicago.  Her daily route keeps her busy, to say the least.  She has so much mail to deliver.  However, that did not keep her from noticing one person on her busy route.  One day, while delivering the mail, Shonda noticed that Helen Iwanski had not picked up the previous day’s mail.  In fact, Helen had not picked up several days’ mail.  Shonda could have stuffed more mail in the box and went on her way, but she stopped and decided to call the police.

“Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.“

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

Aimee and I have been blessed to witness the generosity of so many of God’s people. In each of the different churches that we have had the privilege of serving, we have seen the joy of giving lived out in so many different ways. One evening, while living and serving in Fort Cobb, our doorbell rang. When I answered the door, I was greeted by a member of our church, Colleen. She was carrying a large bag of meat.  It contained 50 pounds of various cuts of beef.  Colleen handed me the large sack and said we wanted you to have this. What a gift! I was shocked.

This past year my oldest daughter, Ella Kate, turned 16. Like most teenagers, she wanted a big sweet-sixteen party. She had so many plans for how her special day should go. Sadly, the pandemic kept us from being able to gather with family and friends. She was so sad, but she understood. It doesn’t change the fact that what she hoped for, what she dreamed of, was not able to happen. The day of her birthday arrived. We did what we could to make her day special.

Over the past 16 years, I have become somewhat of an expert on children’s shows. My daughters have taken over our TV and most of the shows we watch are cartoons. One of those shows that we have seen, many, many, many, times is “Horton Hears a Who!” This classic by Dr. Seuss features the voices of Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and Carol Burnett. It is an imaginative story about an Elephant (Horton) who hears the voices of tiny people who live on a speck found on a small flower.  After hearing the voices and contacting a person on the speck, Horton determines that it is his job is to protect the people, the Who, living on that flower.