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 An
old professor, a scientific genius, absent-mindedly worked on an
equation at a banquet. He heard none of the speeches honoring
him. It was thoughtless and people noticed it. Yet in deference
to a great man, they overlooked his inconsiderateness. A young
admirer watched the professor and mimicked him. He missed the
point of greatness and cultivated being absent-minded and
inconsiderate of people.
It
is a common blunder. It was not thoughtlessness that made the
professor great. Dedicated work made him an exceptional man in spite
of being thought- less. Oddities — being so obvious — are
often emphasized and cultivated. Genuine virtues are not
dramatic and are often overlooked.
Legends
of the “pioneer” preachers reveal the same problem. Their
jokes, pranks, and personal peculiarities endure and are
constantly retold. It is sad that some of the most dedicated men
are remembered only for their jokes and stunts. Young preachers
get the idea that such was what made them great preachers. Far
from it. Their quirks were tolerated because of the good work
they did. We forget the undramatic but sound teaching, the
selfless sacrifice, the midnight oil burned in study, and a
genuine love for souls. These things make great preachers.
Enlarging oddities distorts proper perspective.
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Remember,
you can be an “odd ball” without being a great man. There
are more absent-minded dunces than absent-minded geniuses. There
are lots of rude, prank-pulling, and otherwise weird preachers
who have nothing else to offer.
Come
to think of it, a man does not even have to be odd to be
great. All geniuses are not absent-minded. An exceptional
preacher does not have to be a “nut” of some sort. Being “a
peculiar people” does not require Christians to become a clan
of kooks. It is rather a people who belong to God and are
dedicated to his service. (Note ASV —”a people for God’s
own possession” 1 Pet. 2:9). We will all have oddities enough
without cultivating them. Joe Fitch
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Reports
from Robert indicate that the meeting work in Australia is
producing fruit. We will have some reports in Plain Talk when
Robert gets home. Pray the Father for his safety and success.
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This
issue of Plain Talk begins the eighth year of publication. It is
still sent free to all who request it. We try to make it worth
reading.
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