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 STUFF
ABOUT THINGS is an effort to maintain balance —- a bit of
therapy for those of us who sometimes take ourselves too
seriously. It is drawn from my experiences, and from
"tales" heard while wandering through this wonderful
land. Inevitably such STUFF will pounce upon incongruous
happenings — serious moments that somehow "go
astray." For example: the funeral for the town drunk, where
the preacher said repeatedly, "This is a sobering
occasion." Most sobering!
Another
preacher accompanied a body to a distant state, arriving only
minutes before time for the funeral. He was told that two local
girls would like to sing a song during the services, and agreed
— thinking this was a family arrangement, or girls from the
local church. But the girls appeared in "cow-girl"
outfits, with a guitar, and sang, "Satisfied Mind."
(That's an old country western, in case you have forgotten.)
I
was challenged for a debate at a funeral in East Texas. Services
were conducted in an abandoned schoolhouse which was near the
place of burial. Upon arrival I was asked if the local
Pentecostal preacher might have some part in the funeral, as
some of the family of the deceased were members of that church.
Of course I agreed, and suggested
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that he read the obituary and word
the opening prayer.
Things
went well until he began talking about the family, and how he
had "concerted" some of them. Then I suppose he got
"carried away" with himself (they may have called it
the "working of the Spirit") and turning to me, he
issued a rousing challenge for a public debate on the Holy
Spirit in conversion, and Miracles. My mouth may have dropped
open, but I said nothing at the time.
But
after the burial I climbed upon a large pile of dirt, called the
people together, and accepted the challenge. The preacher agreed
to have the debate in that school building, but never honored
the agreement. I certainly do not charge all Pentecostal
preachers with such insensitivity or lack of honor. This is just
another example of the STUFF of life.
Of
course preachers (and others) are usually the heroes in their
own stories, but we should all remember that none of us are
immune to the failings of the rest of us. If STUFF ABOUT THINGS
is a "joke" page, remember, you and I are the jokers.
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