I met Jesus at an auction. Last Sunday our Mission Committee held a Hymn Auction to raise funds to purchase school supplies for our local schools. It was a wonderful idea! We raised over $1,700. The bidding was fierce. The highest bid was $200 for the same hymn! Our auctioneer, Kelly, told us, “Remember, you’re not just buying a hymn, you’re buying a memory. Was he ever right. The memories in that room were overflowing. From “Victory In Jesus” to “Church In the Wildwood’” we belted out the Good News. Nancy, our pianist, was accompanying those memories with vim and vigor. Nancy, in her 8th decade, recently fell into the High School orchestra pit as she took a shortcut through the pitch black auditorium. She broke her hip. To have her tinkling the ivories was a miracle in itself. Have I mentioned that I love music -- all kinds. A little less love for Country Western and Jazz but they’re growing on me. I think music is one of the greatest blessings God has given us. So there we sat. Some in rows. The more rebellious at tables. I couldn’t help but look around at my FUMCVC brothers and sisters. Their everyday faces were transformed. The Spirit of the Lord was truly alive and well in that room. But the face I kept returning to was that of Eldon. Eldon and his wife, Marcia and I served the Lord together at Pleasant Valley UMC. Now we serve the Lord together at FUMCVC Eldon was a graphic design artist before computers. He was a little gruff at times but a tireless worker. Always willing, always faithful. Life has become a bit more difficult for Eldon and Marcia. Marcia is the caregiver. She makes sure they are faithful in the attendance to Sunday School., worship and Wednesday Morning Fellowship. She continues to be extremely active in United Methodist Women. As I watched Eldon that morning I was amazed at his memory. He may have difficulty remembering the daily routine but he was on point with every hymn. Song after song he sang in full. Never missed a word, never missed a beat. His face was aglow. He looked like an angel! A music professor from Perkins School of Theology once told us, “It’s the hymns we have stored in our hearts that keep us going. It’s the hymns we can sing while we’re on the combine, or at the kitchen sink, or riding our bikes, or taking a test, or exercising that strengthen our faith and bring us close to Jesus.” Pope Francis recently told the Church to put away our technology and spend more time in communion with our Lord. What a concept. Today -- let’s turn off our Smart Phones, our computer, our Kindle, our television (Just for five minutes), lift your eyes to the Lord and sing from the heart. Be it “How Great Thou Art”, “Shout to the North”, “The Old Rugged Cross”, “Our God Is An Awesome God”, “Bringing In the Sheaves”, or “Amazing Grace.” Belt it out. “Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life.”
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 14:55:51 +0000
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