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Once upon a time there were three bricklayers working on the same project. The first was asked by a curious onlooker, “What are you doing?” He answers, “I am laying bricks.” The second bricklayer was asked the same question. He said, “I am erecting a wall.” When the third bricklayer is asked, he says, “I am building a cathedral.” “In bewildering times,” says Peter Steinke, “leaders need the third bricklayer’s vision: focusing on what might be possible and seeing the opportunity buried in the confusion.” Or as another outspoken Christian, Dave Ramsey, has put it, “Attitude is everything.” So again I’ll start with…Once upon a time. Once upon a time three people were asked, “Whose church is this?” The first one said: Here is the church, and here is the steeple, Just listen to me, not all of these people. This is my church, and I’ll tell you why, I won’t try to be modest, I’m a really great guy. I’ve put mulch on the playground, cleaned up after dinners. I’m such a great saint, though they are all sinners. I attend every meeting, I argue each point, There aren’t many times that I’m not at this joint. Next Sunday’s Youth Sunday, and not to be mean, But Lord, how I hate to sing words from a screen. I’ll come anyhow, but it’s really a pity That they won’t tell them “no” from the Worship Committee. I’ve been here so long, I know every tradition. Every prayer that we pray, every offering for mission. The mistakes in the bulletin, yes, I keep score, And I’ll tell you “That’s not how we’ve done it before.” They know me so well here, I oft get my way, If I don’t I might threaten that I just cannot stay. But I won’t really leave, I just like to holler, That perhaps they have seen the last of my dollars. Of course I love Jesus, he’s great in a lurch, But I hope he won’t ever reform my great church. But the second one said, “Why make such a fuss? Let’s all get along, this church is for us.” We’re friendly to visitors IF they are cool, The rest are just names that go into our pool. We like the same music; we read the same books; We have the same manners and charming good looks. Our children fit in here; they all are such smarties, And on special occasions, we serve wine at our parties. We wear our smiles every week, a really big grin, We do, it’s important, to really fit in. The smiles say, “Don’t bother,” I’m doing OK, I don’t want you to know if I’m hurting today. We’re shiny, we’re happy, our bank accounts soar, Except when we’re sick, or depressed, or just poor. We don’t need your help, help is for dummies, But remember to call me when I’m feeling crummy. We love this church, its programs and creeds, Don’t change a thing, just meet all our needs. As for challenge and growth, we don’t want to hear it, We’re doing just fine with all programs, no spirit. That Jesus, the one that was born in December, If he’d join our club, we’d make him a member. The third one was asked, Who owns this place? And this last one replied, it is God’s thanks to grace. It’s more than the building, it’s more than the steeple. It’s more than the programs, or music, or people. We still eat and tell stories, it’s really quite nice, But the best part is we’re the Body of Christ. From the disciples’ great teachings we’ve learned to take heart And to care for God’s world we will all do our part. It isn’t about how this church fits my plan. It’s about how I have learned to give when I can. I offer my prayers, and of this I’m assured, I will get help and new life from my Lord. I can’t control things, and yes that is scary, Believe it or not, it won’t make me contrary. God’s got the power; God’s earned the glory, I’m simply glad to be part of this story. Our goal is quite easy, just follow God’s son, Some days it is tricky, on others quite fun. We don’t all agree here, and that makes me wonder, When the Spirit decides to add on to our number. Jesus is welcome, he’s our treasured guest, This is God’s church, we sure are blessed. So if they ask you someday, “This church is for who?” You may say, “It is God’s,” but it’s mine and ours too. We’ve multiple reasons to come to this place. Let’s admit, in the end, that it’s all about grace. It’s grace that sustains us when we have been jerks, And thought it was us who’d end up with the perks. Though we want the kudos and we want the thanks, God knows us, and loves us in spite of our pranks. It’s hard for God’s creatures when given the chance To come to this party and have courage to dance. We want to be liked; we want to be right, We want everything now, apparent, in sight. But God works in strange ways, God has God’s own reasons, God works God’s own time, and it’s not in our seasons. Our faith must stay strong, but we have to let go, When we get wrapped up in our own work below. The heavens will open, the angels rejoice, When all of God’s children can speak their own voice. It’s not rocket science, it’s not hocus pocus, It’s just a great church, where God is the focus. Amen. © Kerra Becker English 2008 |
