St. Andrews Episcopal Church

RECENT SERMONS

BRIGHT SUNDAY AT SAINT ANDREW’S,
SARATOGA, CA, APRIL 22, 2007

Bright Sunday is an ancient tradition which celebrates the humor of God, Easter seen as God’s trick on the devil, bringing life out of death Laughter is very healing, and this particular weekend our entire nation is in need of healing from the tragic deaths at Virginia Tech, and never far from our hearts and minds our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilians there. A thin line exists between laughter and tears. Context impacts the content of this Sunday, dictating that the tone of stories this year be more sweet than raucous.

Jill’s oldest friend, Joan, sent us this one: It was a busy morning - around 8:30, when a man in his 80’s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb, stating that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would
be over an hour before someone could see him. He kept looking at his watch - and since I wasn’t busy with another patient – decided to evaluate his wound. It was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, and got the needed supplies to remove his sutures.

While taking care of his wound I asked him why the hurry. “I need to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with my wife. She’s been there for awhile.” “Will she be upset if you’re a bit late?” “Oh, she has Alzheimer’s, no longer knows who I am – hasn’t recognized me in five
years now.” “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?” He smiled, and patted my hand. “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.”

Bill Peacock, shared these thoughts by Regina Brett of the Cleveland Plain Dealer: Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
It is never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. What other people think of you is none of your business.

As in Biblical times, a lot of wisdom is still being written. “Inside every older person is a younger person – wondering what the heckhappened.” “Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out, but I can usually shut her up with cookies.” (Cora Harvey Armstrong) “I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows.” (Janette Barber) “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do; a woman must do what he can’t.”(Rhonda Hansome) “If you can’t be a good example – then you’ll just have to be horrible warning.” (Catherine) Dolly Parton said, “I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb - and I’m also not blonde.”

Barbara Monks sent some Christian One Liners: Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors. The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close. Some minds are like concrete: thoroughly mixed up and permanently set. God loves everyone, but probably prefers “fruits of the spirit” over “religious nuts.”

I don’t know where I received it, but I like the one: never put a period where God puts a comma.

Tim Bridges, who is a source for many Bright Sunday stories, shared this one. A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a story. From time to time she’d take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She began thoughtfully stroking her own cheek, then his again. Finally she spoke up, “Grandpa, did God make
you? “Yes, sweetheart,” he answered. “God made me a long time ago.” “Oh. Grandpa, did God make me, too?” “Yes, indeed, Honey. God made you, too – just a little while ago.” Feeling their respective faces again, she observed, “He’s getting better at it, isn’t he.”

These two stories came from Alan Dillaway, whom we know through Al Evans, who constantly sends me candidates for Bright Sunday: While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, “The tooth fairy will never believe this!”

I was driving with my 3 young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved - stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year old shout from the back seat, “Mom! That lady isn’t wearing a seat belt!”

Some more from Tim Bridges: A 4-year-old was at the pediatrician’s office for a check-up. as the doctor looked in her ears, he asked, “Do you think I’ll find Big Bird in here?” The little girl was silent. Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. “Do you think I’ll find the Cookie Monster down there?” Again, silence. Then he put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heart beat he asked, “Do you think I’ll hear Barney in there?” “Oh, no!” the little girl replied, “Jesus is in my heart, Barney’s on my panties.”

On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was. “We’re behind 14 – nothing,” he answered with a smile. “Really! I have to say you don’t look discouraged.” “Discouraged?” the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. “Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t been up to bat, yet.”

Whenever I’m disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. He was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he’d set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with his mother to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. “Guess what, Mom,” he shouted, “I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer!”

Ed Jacklitch is another source of humor for this day entitled, “They Walk Among us.” My sister has a life-saving tool in her car designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk.

Probably my all-time favorite from Ellen Hogue: When the house lights immed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” At that moment the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.” Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon, his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn’t recall what else the great master played. Only Mozart’s classic, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

Perhaps that’s the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly “noteworthy” – so to speak. Even trying our best, the results aren’t always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life’s work can be beautifully transformed. The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, or when you’re disappointed or down, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.” May you feel his arms around you and know that his hands are there, transforming. . .

Gratitude to all of you who sent these thoughts and stories for this occasion all through the year, and gratitude to God for a sense of humor that - in spite of all our antics and foibles and failures - loves us completely, raising us all from death to life.

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