TRIPS: to TRAFALGAR; to TENN.

March 2, 2023

We had a wonderful reason to go to Trafalgar, Indiana early last month: my sister Margaret was celebrating her 95th birthday! Great trip to take, right? It was well worth it, seeing her being appreciated by dozens of friends and relatives (we win the prize for traveling the furthest), close family and in-laws, old school mates, town mates, nieces and nephews—both regular and grand—everyone had a great time. 

Margaret was very happy and conversational with us all, doing very well in the health department. Though she’s had some age related problems and uses a cane to steady herself, she came through the afternoon party with plenty of energy to spare. In fact, we thought to let her go home and get some rest Saturday evening, but her son called and said “Mom wants to go out for dinner!” So, without hesitancy we did so. Again, very alert and in the conversations, even with a 2-3 degree separation waitress who brought her the free dessert for her birthday. We enjoyed our time with her and her son, Dennis,  who came to dinner with us.

Margaret was the second child born to our family, I was the eighth. She graduated from Trafalgar High School, as all eight of us did, in 1946. I graduated in 1960. The most in school we had at once was 6; when my oldest brother, Ken was a Senior, I started First Grade. Several families in the township were as big or bigger than ours, but I’m pretty sure ours graduated the most, all.

Tomorrow, at the start of a new month, we go away again to a weekend  bible conference (Gatlinburg, TN) with another group of friends. Here we’ll listen to about 8 or so messages from a variety of preachers and have joyful fellowship with friends from several different states (and social norms.)

As I anticipate perhaps being one of those messengers, I’m well aware of my senior status making me at once respected by the younger listeners, but not expected to bring forth a powerful message in the minds of older listeners. Yet, I have the exact same powerful textbook as all the rest, have spent more hours in it than younger men, and simply by virtue of experience should bring forth whatever message the Lord wants brought forth in such a manner as to inculcate strong desires for both study and a desire to serve the Lord amongst the entire congregation!

Hmm, maybe I found the subject, now what saith the Lord to such an end? Tomorrow shall bring me time to study these things, time I must make. You know, an interesting thing may come about in study. In similar situations I’ve found the Lord’s word shifts my focus and an altogether different subject comes forth from His word—that’s known as “here a little, there a little” in study parlance, one of 3 ways to receive from the Spirit of Christ the understanding our Savior intends us to illustrate—Isa.28:10. A long time ago I learned to not quarrel with myself or the Lord’s leadership at such times. Why should I question or short-change the leadership of the Spirit of the Lord?

This brings to memory a conversation I had with a young preacher several years back. He related to me that someone in his congregation asked him just before a service to please teach on some basic truths that day due to some guests whom he had invited to be there. My friend belittled the request because he had “ put a lot of study” into his planned subject and he intended to bring forth his message. I reminded him that the message was the Lord’s and not his (2 Chron.20:15, last part and 1 Sam.17:47, remember David was just a lad.)  Perhaps the man’s friends were only going to hear one message and needed to know simple basic truths, such as “..how that Christ died for our sins,…was buried,,,and was raised again the third day…” for our justification (1Cor.15:3,4 &Rom.4:24,25) Was he really willing to think his message was superior to that? Yet, he was not deterred, not willing to give it up. And the visitors never came again. A shameful thing. That young man left the ministry sometime after that. I think I’m glad he did, and that’s a shame, also.

Life’s largest problem, ego, sometimes causes us to be late to learn the very principles we should have followed. ….another correctable offense, oh may it be!

Thanks for reading, the Elder