Deciding

A middle school music teacher had just organized a band in her school. The principal was so proud of the music teacher’s efforts that without consulting her he decided that the band should give a concert for the entire school. The music teacher wasn’t so sure her young musicians were ready to give a concert, so she tried to talk the principal out of holding the concert, to no avail. Just before the concert was ready to begin, as the music teacher stood on the podium, she leaned forward and whispered to her nervous musicians, “If you’re not sure of your part, just pretend to play.” And with that, she stepped back, lifted her baton and with a great flourish brought it down. Lo and behold, nothing happened! The band brought forth a resounding silence.

Sometimes we in the church are like that middle school band, unsure of our parts, tentative in our roles, reluctant to trumpet forth the music of faith that God desires of us. And that’s because we have trouble deciding what’s most important.

I remember an incident on a hot summer afternoon outside a shopping mall. A friend and I saw a young child in a car seat inside a locked car, in a sleeping posture. Where was the mother? How is the child? She would not rouse to our yelling and beating on the window. It seemed to me a life and death situation. What to do? Mall security arrived. Immediately the opposite side window was smashed to get to the child. She was ok. Were we heroes? Not so. The mother soon arrived and was mad because the window had to be broken. She was just inside a store to exchange clothing. I thought to myself, “What’s more important – this child or a window?’

Most of the choices we make in life are not between what is trivial and what is important. Rather, most of the choices we make are usually between what is important and what is more important.

Sunday by Sunday come join us to hear and receive what is most important – God’s everlasting love in Jesus.

Rev. Don Thomas

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