Wednesday's thoughts

These sermons never go where I'd like them to go. They take off in directions I would never have imagined. That's true of a number of the sermons including this one.

I thought it would be interesting to explore the nature of freedom and the importance of freedom. I was struck with the nobility of character and the strength of purpose witnessed in Miep Gies who sheltered Anne Frank and her family and who preserved the "diary" Anne wrote for posterity.

The sermon has led me into looking at the way in which ordinary people are able to do extraordinary things. It has prompted me to think about our ordinariness and how we learn to cope with it. It has pushed me to look at the ways in which we compensate for our ordinariness. I have come to the conclusion that most of the great things that have been done in the world were accomplished by ordinary people who found a way to compensate for the inadequacies they discovered.

I think of George Washington who thought he was not worthy of the task he was given. The greatness of Washington was his recognition of his inadequacy and moving forward in spite of it.

I think of Anne Frank who took the limitation of being imprisoned in a secret room behind a bookcase and who never lost her sense of hope and joy of life.

I think of Paul, the Apostle, who wrote in 2 Corinthians 12 of the "thorn in his flesh" and how he was weak and through his weakness he was strong.

I wonder about all of us and they way in which we are in touch with our imperfections and the struggle to compensate to the point that our weaknesses make us strong.

How does that work for you?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.


I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles