Leonard Sweet wrong about a very dark time in his life. He is a professor, and administrator of Drew Theological Seminary. He was on a speaking tour and was about to make a major presentation when he was pulled aside by a church leader who said to him, "I have to ask you a question. I have to have an answer to my question and I have to have it now. There are people who are saying you are having an affair."
Sweet was absolutely shocked by the question. He was speechless. He sat down with the person who asked the question and then he said that he and his wife were living apart because their work required it. He said their marriage had never been stronger and the rumor was absolutely false."
That was all the inquisitor needed to hear and he walked away with regret that he had had to ask. Meanwhile, Dr. Sweet was being called to the stage to give his speech. He sat in the back behind the curtain for a short time and then he walked out in front of the packed auditorium. He had a piece of paper in his wallet which he took out and placed on the lecture. The paper had two words on it. It read, "Please, God". He took a pencil and scratched out the comma. Now it read, "Please God".
Leonard Sweet focused on those words in his speech and from that point on.
We as people and we in the church will have moments when we are questioned about what we are doing and why. If we need some focus there is none better than those two words with the comma removed. If too live our lives to "please God" drives our passion and our thinking we need not worry about our critics.
How do we live to "please God"? How will that make a difference for us when the times are hard?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts and respond click on the 'comment' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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