Archive for July, 2024

The Last Repair Shop 7-28-2024

Saturday, July 27th, 2024

Los Angeles is one of the last public-school districts in the country
to offer free musical training to students. At a converted warehouse, the
L.A. Unified School District’s Musical Instrument Repair Shop
maintains more than 6,000 instruments each year for more than 1,300
student musicians. The team of four technicians repair and restore
thousands of instruments – as a result of their work, a whole new world
of music and creativity opens up for Los Angeles’ students. As they
lovingly maintain these instruments, the four craftspeople are fully
aware that the piano or clarinet or violin they are restoring or fixing
could very well change the life of a young musician.
The story of this unique repair shop and its impact on the lives of
student-musicians in the Los Angeles area is recounted in the
documentary The Last Repair Shop, winner of an Academy
Award for best documentary short film. In the film, students proudly
play their instruments and share the profound impact their music studies
have had on their young lives – over and above their learning to play.
And the four technicians tell their own stories of how their own
experience with music has transformed their lives from poverty,
isolation and oppression to purpose, dignity and self-determination.
Since the film premiered , the shop has received boxes
of hand-written thank-you letters from L.A. students and teachers. “This
is our Oscars right there”, the shop’s supervisor says, pointing to a box
of letters. “Every note (from a student or graduate) is our Oscar. Every
thank-you email from a teacher, that’s our Oscar”.
The work of the Last Repair Shop reveals the miracles that can be
realized with “leftovers” and fragments – whether scraps of bread or
musical instruments in need of some “love”. Throughout his ministry,
Jesus always knows what to do with what had been lost, overlooked or
left behind. Jesus realizes the possibilities contained in such pieces; he
knows the value that lies within what has been broken and discarded.
He sees the abundance that lies hidden, the feast that remains within the
fragments, the possibilities for new “miraculous feedings”. As the
twelve wicker baskets of leftovers attest to the sign Jesus had worked,
our own basket of “leftovers” are signs of the many blessings we have
received in our lives and the promise we can realize from our generous
and creative use of those fragments. Today’s Gospel also challenges us
to realize the many things we waste in our lives that can be the
difference between life and death for our brothers and sisters, that our
stored “wicker baskets” of clothing, food, and household goods – and
musical instruments – can become signs of the providence of God in our
midst, that what we casually throw away can be the means of something
good and grace-filled for the hungry, the broken and the discouraged.
God calls us to the work of repairing, of restoring, for making whole
with the “pieces” and “fragments” that bless our lives.


The Eyes of Jesus 7-21-2024

Thursday, July 18th, 2024

A few months ago, I watched the movie Forrest Gump for about
the 10th time. I was really touched by the character played by Tom
Hanks. I believe Forrest Gump could teach us a lot about relating to
each other.
This unique person was able to see past all stereotypes and labels
we lay on people. He was able to bypass all the games people play. In
his own goofy way – he saw goodness, beauty, potential in each person
he met. He had a special gift.
I believe Jesus saw people in a special way – I wonder, I just
wonder – – if we looked at people today with eyes of Jesus, what would
we see?
I. For one thing, I am sure we would see some invisible burdens.
Most people do not carry their heartaches in plain view.
They bear them quietly, but they are there nonetheless. The
couple in the car just ahead, maybe a father and mother, who are
worried about their son. The woman in the super market may be
concerned about her health, anxiously awaiting the doctor’s report.
That elderly man may have recently lost his wife, a constant
companion for more than fifty years. I do not recall who said it,
but it is a wise word of instruction; “Be kind to each person you
meet, because everyone is having a hard time.” Listen to this
little poem:
“Pray don’t find fault with the man who limps and stumbles along
the road, unless you have worn the shoes he wears or struggled beneath
his load. There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt, though hidden away
from view, and the load he bears placed on your back might cause you to
stumble, too.”
II. He would also see some extenuating circumstances.
The critics of Jesus often thought he was too lenient in his attitude
toward sinners. He came to the defense of a woman caught in adultery.
How could he do that, when the Law of Moses clearly states that she
should be stoned. He showed compassion toward a prostitute, who
bathed his feet with tears and dried them with her hair. They wondered
why he would allow a woman like that to touch him. He said to a dying
thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” How could he say such
a thing?” What right did a crucified felon have to a place in paradise?
The difference between Jesus and his critics was a matter of insight.
They saw nothing but the failure. He saw the pain and the problems that
played a part in that failure.
When a marriage ends in divorce, it would be easy for you and me
to be harshly critical. But before doing that, we would be wise to pause
and consider. How much do we know about what has taken place in that
home across the years? Could there be a long-established pattern of
abuse, totally unknown to the outside world? When we witness a
breakdown of character that leads to public shame, it is easy for you and
me to sit in judgment. But once again, we would be wise to pause and
consider. No event in life is complete within itself. There is a story
behind it. Knowing that story would not excuse the offense, but it well
might cause us to judge less severely.
III. One final thought – looking at people through the eyes of
Christ, we would see unrealized possibilities.
That is our characteristic attitude toward children. We look at little
ones and think of all the things they might become. Jesus had that
attitude toward people of all ages. He looked at a rugged fisherman,
and saw in him the making of a spiritual rock.
Someone has said; “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a
future.” Our Lord would heartily agree with that. “He saw a vast
crowd, and he pitied them.” If we would look at people through his
eyes, beyond all of their burdens and failures, we would see
unrealized possibilities.
Let me leave you with this prayer:
Almighty God,
We, who have never known what it means not to have things we
desire, need to feel the poverty and hunger and despair among
our fellow men and women.
We, who have felt nothing but the surge of youthful vitality in our
body, need to understand what it means to be ill and unable to care
for our self.


Are We on God’s List? 7-14-2024

Thursday, July 11th, 2024

Have you ever wanted to give God suggestions about how God
ought to do things? Not earth-shattering suggestions, perhaps. Just
simple things…like the foods we eat. Why not put all the vitamins and
minerals in the tasty foods? Save all the fat and cholesterol for spinach
and brussel sprouts.
God could also use some advice about the kind of people God calls
to do his work. God seems to have this thing about calling very
imperfect people. Certainly, Abraham was imperfect. Why he once
tried to pass off his wife as his sister. And Moses was imperfect. He
once killed a man in a fit of anger. Then there was Samson. Look how
easily he let a woman lead him. And then David. Adulterer. Murderer.
Surely God could have done better. And Jonah – fleeing from God
because he hated the people of Nineveh.
For that matter, I probably would not have chosen Simon Peter.
Sure, he ended up as a rock, but before that he was a wishy-washy
coward. And James and John. Always jockeying for a place of
prominence.
Can you imagine a church board interviewing the prophet, Amos!
“Now, Mr. Amos, let’s have a look at your credentials.”
“Credentials?”
“Yes, your credentials. Where did you go to school? What major
theologian has influenced your thinking? Where were you first
ordained?”
“Theologian?” “Ordained? Well, you see, I’m a shepherd by
background. I really haven’t had much formal training. I did work for
awhile dressing sycamore trees, if that counts for anything. As for
theology, I don’t know that any one person has influenced my thinking.
But I’ve seen people cheated in the market place. I’ve seen widows
thrown out of their homes. I’ve seen children sold for a pair of shoes.
And God has told me it’s not right. God has called me to confront the
doers of injustice in society and to proclaim God’s righteousness.”
“Sycamore trees? Righteousness? Well, Mr. Amos, Hmmm…we really
were looking for someone with a doctorate. And we would prefer a
ministry that was not confrontational.” Poor Amos. He wouldn’t have
made it past the first interview. God just isn’t very good at choosing the
kind of people who represent God…” Hum” – I wonder?
Pastor Jim Moore recalls when he took a course in pastoral care as
a part of his seminary training. One day he was asked to visit a woman
in the hospital who had lost her will to live; she had no cards or flowers,
and she sat all day in a darkened room. But Jim was terrified. He felt
that he was too inexperienced, and that he wouldn’t know what to do.
And his nervousness affected his visit.
First, he pushed the door open too hard and it slammed against the
wall. Next, he walked over and accidentally kicked the bed. He
stammered, stuttered and said all the wrong things in between long
periods of embarrassed silence. Finally, he tried to say a prayer, but
even that didn’t come out right. He left the room that day with tears in
his eyes, ready to quit the ministry. He felt ashamed that this patient had
needed him, and he had failed her.
But a few days later Jim went courageously back. Imagine his
surprise when he found the woman sitting up in bed writing letters.
Flowers and cards were everywhere. She recognized him at once, and
began thanking him over and over for the visit he had paid her.
Jim was confused, because he knew he had botched the visit. He had
done everything painfully wrong, and he confessed as much to her.

“But that’s just it,” she replied. “I felt so sorry for you! It was the first time I had felt anything but self-pity for months. And that little spark of compassion for you gave me the will to live. As followers, as disciples of Jesus our weaknesses are often blessings in disguise.Former professional baseball player Roy Campanella, who was confined to a wheelchair following an accident, found an important resource in his faith. He had felt only anguish and despair immediately following the accident, and he spent many nights crying himself to sleep. He healed poorly in those first few months, and one day his physician came in and told him frankly that if he didn’t become responsible for his own healing, he would never recover. Campanella knew that he would never leave his wheelchair. He knew that he would never play ball again. But he also knew that the doctor was right. All his life he had found help in his faith. And now, from the depths of his despair, he turned once more to the Lord. He had a nurse read him the Twenty-third Psalm, and from that moment, Campanella improved. He knew that God was on his side. Sometime later Roy Campanella had an encounter with an elderly woman in Florida. He was sitting in his wheelchair at a ball park when he noticed a crippled, elderly woman working her way slowly up a steep ramp. She had braces on both legs and a crutch, but she struggled up the ramp until she reached him. Then panting from her exertion, she looked at him, and then took his hand in hers. And she thanked him for her life. She had been a patient in the same New York hospital when he was recovering form his accident. A stroke had left her paralyzed on one side of her entire body, and she had lost her will to live. But the doctors told her about Campanella and his courage and faith in the face of overwhelming adversity. She had been so inspired by the story that she determined to make the effort to live. And now she had traveled over a thousand miles to meet him in person and thank him. Time after time we have seen people who were physically weak develop such spiritual strength that they have inspired others. I close: God seems to have this thing calling imperfect weak people – to be messengers. I believe God knows what God is doing! I wonder if any of us are on God’s list.