Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Actions Speak Louder than Words" (without using the actual phrase). (02/21/08)
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TITLE: Even a Rock can sometimes grow a Flower | Previous Challenge Entry
By mark lyon
02/27/08 -
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I should have expected it. She is always the first person to call upon someone when they are in the hospital.
“Hello, Edith”
“Good afternoon Pastor, good sermon this morning.”
“Why thank you Edith”
“But I didn’t particularly enjoy the worship service today,”
“Why not? Was it to droll for you?”
“No, I just don’t like to see all that activity going on up there on the worship platform.”
“You mean stuff like kids’ moments, those special readings, and the interpretative dance?”
“And that movie screen too! I can’t see the words up there on the screen, it’s to bright, and none of those songs that you sung were in the church hymnal.”
“So, you don’t like the contemporary worship service format?”
“As you know Pastor, I don’t like a lot things. I know I complain a lot about our church and I know it makes a lot of people upset at me, but I don’t care. It’s my church and I got a right to complain. And yes, I don’t like that modern music stuff in our church! Good day!” and she walked away abruptly and defiantly as always.
Now there was a person who will tell you what was on her mind and she does not care who she makes mad or who disagrees with her. She always tries to tell others how to run the church. If you did not like what she said, too bad! She was very obstinate and stubborn in her position. She was likeable but she was also very nauseating.
I remember those days when she used to be on the building committee. There was not one nail, one board, nor one can of paint that she did not have an opinion about. It is a wonder we ever got our church addition finished with her barking out all the orders all the time.
I can recall when she had that heated argument with Cindy Lou who was our Sunday school coordinator. It was over something mundane like play doe or wrong colors of chalk. Cindy Lou was so upset, she was nearly in tears, and she was ready to quit right then.
Edith has made a lot of enemies.
But as mad as she makes people, she is always the first person to show up when a crisis occurs. Whether there is a death within the church family or if someone is ill or incapacitated or physically injured, she is always the first to respond to any calamity within the congregational family unit.
Now, I am not an expert when it comes to God’s saving grace, for we all have habits, behaviors, and conditions that are less than desirable in the eyes of God. I’m the first to admit that I continue to make bad decisions counter to the productivity of the heavenly kingdom. But as frustrating and as annoying Edith can be, she still has an acute sense of compassion and hospitality when it comes to visiting and offering hope to those who have been dealt with a recent struggle or loss.
Her presence in the church board room can make the hair stand upon you neck. But her presence at the homes and the hospitals of the sick are a welcomed sight to those needing support and encouragement.
Many of us see Edith as this old nag who is inconsiderate of another person’s opinion. But I have personally witnessed her kindness and sympathy towards those who are gravely ill.
Her bark is loud and she might bite you at times, but she will always be there with a band aid, a comforting hand, and a prayer of support to those who are hurting or in pain. She may be an irritant to several people at our church, but to others she’s a saint.
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Her bark is loud and she might bite you at times, but she will always be there with a band aid, a comforting hand, and a prayer of support to those who are hurting or in pain.