Proper 14 C What Would It Look Like If…

 Proper 14 C What Would It Look Like If…

August 11, 2013

By the Rev. Ernest F. Campbell



Our son Dave uses an inviting question as a discussion starter when he is trying to get people to consider a new vision, or a different way to approach a problem situation. “What would it look like,” Dave would say, “If we all tried to put a dash of loving kindness in our words and actions today?”


If you are like me you didn’t stop outside the church this morning and say to yourself; don’t forget… “loving kindness.” Loving kindness is either a mark of who we are, or its not. Normally, genuine loving kindness does not pop on and off like a mask. Kids can spot a phony mask of “loving kindness” in less than twenty seconds. 


I recalled Miss Krenwinkel. She was a teacher back at Skokie School in my home town of Winnetka. She had a BIG fake smile that she turned on or off like a light switch. We would say, “Good morning, Miss Krenwinkel” and she would flash her smile and say, “Good morning, Ernest.” One morning the boys in her class wondered if we could keep her smiling for more than the usual split second. Our plan was to station ourselves at intervals along the hallway from the parking lot entrance to her classroom doorway. As she passed, we would say, “Good morning, Miss Krenwinkel,” and she would respond with her fake smile, and say, “Good morning, Billy, good morning, James, good morning, Charles, Bill, Ray, Bob…”  We never did it again, but we believe we had Miss Krenwinkel smiling all the way down the hall. 


Opportunities to do the kind and loving thing sneak up on us. One old-timer at Proper’s Breakfast (who uses two canes to get around) told us that as he was leaving McDonalds, a young man got up from his place and held open two doors. He was still smiling as he told us his story. 


A counter to this story was the time we were in England for our grandson’s wedding, and four teenagers were sitting on a bench playing with their electronic games, while four older folks (like me and Margaret) stood nearby. 


Opportunities to do the kind and loving thing sneak up on us. In today’s Gospel from Luke, we read; “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.” We never know when we will be in a position to serve someone in need. 


Jesus said, “When I was hungry, you fed me; when I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison and you visited me.” Then he said, “When you were serving my brothers, you were serving me.”


So, here is Dave’s question again: “What would it look like if we put a dash of loving kindness in our words and actions today?” What I think he is after is called visioning. In sports, players are asked to “see” the play work in their mind’s eye. 


Example) I see myself in the end zone. I see the pass coming towards me, and I see myself catching the ball for a touchdown. And again…. I see myself in the end zone…. I see myself catching that ball for a touchdown….


We can practice that same kind of faith “visioning” as we go about our daily rounds. When Jesus said, "I will be with you always"…. we can practice looking for His presence in life’s situations. Has anyone witnessed God’s loving kindness TODAY? Keep your lamps lit, and your eyes open! Don’t be afraid! Our faith finds it’s courage in God’s faithfulness.


I loved playing softball. When it was my turn at bat, I would pray, “God, you gave me eyes to see, hands and arms to swing a bat, and legs to run. Let me have the faith to relax and let all the parts of my body do what you know and I know they can do!”


In truth, opportunities to do loving things sneak up on us. Someone would stick their head in my office door and say, “Fr. Ernie, do you have a minute?” Experience has taught me that “that minute” could be a journey into a real “hold-onto-your-hat” adventure. If I were to say, “I need to think about that,” or “I’ll get back to you,” faith’s opportunity could be lost. 


From Hebrews we read, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” 


The same passage from The Message: “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.”


Isn’t that what an ADVENTURE is all about? Can we envision a more loving world? We have a beautiful prayer on page 840 in our prayer book. Here it is….


O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.


Can you…. can we VISION that prayer coming into reality? God’s love in us being perfected in our love for all God’s children, one act of loving kindness at a time. 


You’re in the end zone, you see the ball coming, and you catch the ball and enjoy the fruits of another act of loving kindness in the world.


Here’s the honesty check: Along with visioning, we need practice. I would teach my wrestling team a new pinning combination. After the next meet, one of my wrestlers who said he tried the new pinning combination but it didn’t work. So, I asked how many times he practiced it. Ten he said. Make that 110 and try it again.


Today’s Gospel puts our mission to spread God’s love to the world like this: “Be dressed for action, be ready because opportunities that call for loving kindness sneak up on you. We have all experienced God’s touch. It is not something that you easily forget.


When my dad died, he was 53 years old and I was 16. I was in a daze. While we were waiting in the funeral home limousine, Mr. Hoyt, my high school advisor opened the door and shook my hand. That’s all, he just shook my hand. It was his way of saying; I’ll be there for you…and he was. There were other agents of “God’s loving kindness.” A few, of many, come to mind; Ashley Gerheart, Rector of Christ Church Winnetka, Horas Whitehouse, our church choir director, Skipper Getgood, our choir Sunday School teacher, Abe Fell, my boss and mentor. All reached out with God’s loving kindness. All are part of my story. Alleluia!


Our son would encourage his camp staff to share the Angels that had touched their lives, and then he would say, now let’s go out and share God’s love with the people we meet today. 


What would that world look like?





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