the branch of Society of Friends to which I belong is unprogrammed, we have no designated ministers. Anyone who feels moved by the Spirit is free to rise and share a message. As might be expected, there were more messages than normal yesterday, all coming from and attempting to deal with senses of pain, loss, and dread. I had not planned to speak — I never do so plan — and as I listened to and reflected upon the messages being delivered, even though I had thoughts rattling around, I was still not inclined to speak, until after someone I have known for more than 50 years gave the message he had, and then my reflections came together and I found myself moving to the microophone (there to make more audible to those attending on Zoom. For whatever reason, the message seemed to speak to a large number of people, many of whom came up to thank me afterward, When I shared what I had said with my wife, she suggested I might want to write it down to share with others who obviously had not been in attendance when I spoke.
What is below the fold is pretty much as I remember what I said. My quotation from the Bible is far from exact, but the thrust I why I included it should be clear from the context. Read and make of it what you will.
There are three thoughts upon which I have been reflecting. None of the words are mine. Perhaps together they will carry some weight with those here.
The first is the tale of an adult who comes upon a boy along beach, where there are many, many stranded starfish, which the boy is picking up and throwing into the sea. “Little boy” says the man, “you cannot save them all.” The boy responds, “Yes, but I can save this one” as he throws another back into the water.
The second is a Jewish tale, one whose source I do not remember. A young man comes upon an old man who is planting and tending to olive trees. The young man says “You will not live to see and enjoy the fruit of that tree” to which the old man responds “Yes, but my grandchildren will’.
The thought comes from the parable of the talents, which I first heard as a camper at then National Music Camp, which we were told was home of America’s Talented and Gifted Yout, where each of my 8 summers there a man named John Sargent, with a magnificent speaking voice, would read the parable. In the parable Jesus has a master tell a servant that you have been faithful over small things, I will make you master over many things, come and enter into the joy of your lord.
My wife recently said to me that she hoped she would be able to do as those who hid Jews from the Nazis did, to shelter those undocumented that the incoming administration wants to forcibly deport.
Perhaps it is that we need to do such courageous and big things. But perhaps we can each throw one more starfish into the sea. Perhaps if we act simply at each occasion we encounter we will participate in a way that enters into the joy?
Peace.
