Did you ever have one of those days where you cozy up to the couch and watch movies? Not just any movies, but sad movies – heart wrenching movies – movies with an ultimate truth that makes you cry in sadness and joy at the same time?
I recently sat down to watch “My Sister’s Keeper”. For those unfamiliar, it is the story of a family that has a daughter who gets cancer as an infant, and when no matched donor is available, they conceive and give birth to another daughter, who is used as a donor for her sister.
From infancy, the second daughter is poked, prodded and operated on till she reaches the ripe old age of 11 and decides to fight her parents and refuse to donate a kidney to her sister.
The truth of her reluctance is ultimately revealed. It seems that the poor, dying sister doesn’t want any more help and has asked her younger sister to stop giving and as hard as it is for the younger sister, to take her own life back.
Now I will admit I missed the beginning of the movie but when things got most intense, no one prayed, talked about God’s plan in this or anything remotely associated with faith and promise.
And I got to thinking…isn’t the reason we are all here? to help each other? Like the movie, we are sometimes turned down, but that doesn't mean God doesn't want us to keep trying. All we have to do is trust him and ask him for guidance in our giving. God doesn’t just interfere. We know the steps needed to help our friends, neighbors, and fellow humans. When we call on God, we get the spiritual and emotional support we so dearly need and the act of giving gets easier.
I know that we are not all able to give everything someone needs. I have been on the marrow registry for years and though many people need marrow, I have never been a match. I think that if called, I would say yes and then pray that whoever needed my marrow would have a miraculous recovery and get me off the hook. When I was approached at the blood center and told all I had to do is sign the paper, it was easy. But being called and responding? That is when it becomes difficult.
We all say, if called I would be glad to donate my time to the church…but when called how many of us have an excuse to say no? I am always ready to help, just don’t call me. Caller ID is really a bummer for volunteerism.
I had two inspirations to write this – the second was that movie. The first was my K-love scripture of the day…Isaiah, 65:24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
How do you think he answers prayer before people ask? Look in the mirror folks.
We work so hard to beseech God in prayer that we forget that many times the answer to the prayers of others is us. And that is why, the encouraging of service through time and talent is so dear to all of us.
In many ways, we help each other often and without question – we pray - we cook meals when someone is laid up or otherwise unable to do it – we give money to World Vision or other charities – we respond when people need to be uplifted, encouraged or just to share our faith. We are tools in God’s toolbox – we are hammers building faith, saws cutting people from their troubles, screwdrivers attaching God’s message to everyone.
We recently had a new pastor,Matt Erickson say “yes” to dedicating his time, life and family to my church – Eastbrook. He told us that when asked to join us, even though he was receptive to the idea, he prayed over the decision, He didn’t say, God, let me check my schedule, he said God, if it’s your will, let me change my schedule
There is a song my choir does “I Give Myself Away” - we sang this for Pastor Matt’s installation service – but isn’t it really for each of us? We stand in the congregation and give ourselves to God. We are the visual and musical example of His grace when we sing His message. In worship, we are not individual people who stand up and sing, we are God’s instrument. And when someone is moved or inspired by the message we deliver, it is because we sing not for ourselves, but in honor of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
When we sing from our hearts, we see our plans totally fulfilled because they are God’s plans for us. Once we accept that we are God’s chorus on earth, there is no stopping us. We can play beautiful music in our daily activities…with no piano, no guitar, no drum; just the joyful knowledge that we have blessed ourselves while blessing someone else.
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