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From YourSITE.com Monday Moments
Early in my ministry career I was a college chaplain and often spoke at youth retreats. On one such occasion I was traveling from Chicago to Seattle with two college students who were to provide music. We were on a United Airlines flight, and United at that time scheduled flight attendants to work together for an entire month. Somewhere over South Dakota they announced that because it was the last day of their working together, they were going to hold a talent contest for passengers. The winner would receive a bottle of champagne. Bob, one of my musician companions, immediately pulled his guitar down from the overhead luggage bin and went to the front of the plane with a handful of other hopefuls. I knew the others had no chance against him—none—because Bob was an extraordinarily talented young man with a flair for performance. The passengers on the DC-10 were treated to a series of lame jokes and old songs crooned badly—and then Bob. He sang a peppy song he had written using invented words that was a hit at every youth retreat. He engaged his audience at 35,000 feet and soon had them singing his nonsense syllables with gusto. Returning to his seat at the rear of the plane to loud applause, grinning from east to west, Bob proudly displayed his bottle of champagne. “What else could I do?” he said to me. “I am what I am—an entertainer!” Talent is a gift for which to be grateful. An even greater gift is to be able to accept what I have, the circumstances and opportunities—and limitations—which make up my life in this moment. To receive and work within them, not lamenting that they are not greater…or other…than they are right now—this is the meaning of living by grace. But greater still is the ability to embrace my sample of life and move on to what is next. It is not enough to say, “I am hopelessly stuck here; I can do no other.” Grace is dynamic. It seeks the next level with hope while accepting with gratitude the circumstances of today. A young man whose body and speech are severely affected by cerebral palsy said to a meeting I attended, “What you see is a handicapped person. And I am. But in here,” he said, pointing to his head, “I’m All-Star second baseman, turning double plays and headed to the Hall of Fame.” We believed him, for grace is not without effect. *********************************************** Monday Moments are written by Dr. Michael A. Halleen. If you receive this publication as a forwarded message from a friend and wish to be added to the weekly mail list, please contact Mike at mhalleen@att.net. Requests to be removed may be sent to the same address. © Copyright by YourSITE.com |
