Charlie has the ability to think on his feet. He has so much information in his brain that he can expound on almost any topic. I’ve heard him discussing the differences in airplanes with pilots and various types of vessels with skippers. He can hold his own in a political, economic, or religious discussion. He can participate in topics ranging from wildlife to international affairs. Unlike me, he doesn’t usually need the professionals to speak in lay terminology.
One day I told him about a “Mystery Bag” I had seen a former pastor use. Each week a family took the Bag home, inserted a household object, and brought it to church and put it on the platform. The pastor then opened the Bag and brought out the object. Without knowing ahead of time what the object was, he used the item to teach a spiritual lesson. Charlie decided he would try it, and a Sunday evening tradition was born.
At first, it was a big game to see who could stump the pastor. Sometimes he had to ask for additional information about the object. Occasionally he stalled, making comments about the object he held in his hands while his mind furiously sought for a spiritual lesson he could teach with it. Through the years, we’ve seen many stuffed animals, toys, kitchen gadgets, and office supplies.
On our last Sunday at West Hampden, two mystery items appeared. One was brought in by a child who didn’t realize that someone else had already brought something. Because it was our last Sunday, Charlie decided to take them both. The first was a child’s storybook, and he used the story line to teach a message. The second one he opened had two travel mugs inside, with a picture of children in our church and inscribed with these words, “We will be praying for you.” He choked up and didn’t even try to come up with an object lesson for that one. Instead, he thanked the children for their willingness to pray for us.
It is a mystery to me why God answers prayer. It is an even bigger mystery to me that the great, big, wonderful God who made the universe would make a way for me to know Him and have a relationship with Him. How thankful I am that my God doesn’t fit in any of my boxes. I accept that much about Him is a mystery, but He's way too big for any box, even a theoretical one.
One day I told him about a “Mystery Bag” I had seen a former pastor use. Each week a family took the Bag home, inserted a household object, and brought it to church and put it on the platform. The pastor then opened the Bag and brought out the object. Without knowing ahead of time what the object was, he used the item to teach a spiritual lesson. Charlie decided he would try it, and a Sunday evening tradition was born.
At first, it was a big game to see who could stump the pastor. Sometimes he had to ask for additional information about the object. Occasionally he stalled, making comments about the object he held in his hands while his mind furiously sought for a spiritual lesson he could teach with it. Through the years, we’ve seen many stuffed animals, toys, kitchen gadgets, and office supplies.
On our last Sunday at West Hampden, two mystery items appeared. One was brought in by a child who didn’t realize that someone else had already brought something. Because it was our last Sunday, Charlie decided to take them both. The first was a child’s storybook, and he used the story line to teach a message. The second one he opened had two travel mugs inside, with a picture of children in our church and inscribed with these words, “We will be praying for you.” He choked up and didn’t even try to come up with an object lesson for that one. Instead, he thanked the children for their willingness to pray for us.
It is a mystery to me why God answers prayer. It is an even bigger mystery to me that the great, big, wonderful God who made the universe would make a way for me to know Him and have a relationship with Him. How thankful I am that my God doesn’t fit in any of my boxes. I accept that much about Him is a mystery, but He's way too big for any box, even a theoretical one.
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