A PARABLE…4/16/08
by SteveOne of my favorite stories of all time is the one about the pastor who made an investment in a large tract of land which he hoped turn into a ranch where he could enjoy his retirement years. While he was still an active pastor, he would take off one day a week to go out to his land and work. But what a job he had gotten himself into! What he had bought, he quickly realized, was several acres of weeds, gopher holes, and rundown buildings. The whole place was a disaster from one end to the other, but the pastor thought it had potential and so he went to work.
Every week he’d go out to his ranch, crank up his tractor, and start clearing and plowing with the determination that only a man with vision can muster. He’d spend some time working on the buildings, replacing rotten boards, putting new tin on the roofs. He’d mix cement, cut lumber, replace broken windows, and work on leaky plumbing. It was really hard, back-breaking, soul-exhausting work, but after several months the place began to take shape. And every time the pastor would complete another task, he’d step back and look at his work with the pride of a true craftsman. He knew that his vision and labor were finally paying off.
When just about all the work was done, the pastor received a neighborly visit from a friendly farmer who lived a few miles down the road. Farmer Brown took a long look at the preacher, then an even longer look at the revitalized property, then nodded his approval and said, “Well preacher, it looks like you and God have really done some work here.”
The pastor, wiping the sweat from his brow, answered, “You know, it’s interesting that you should say it like that, Mr. Brown. But I’ve got to tell you, you should have seen this place when God had it all by himself!”
When Jesus told his parables, he let the interpretation to his hearers. I think I’ll do the same on this one.
RSS
I’ll lend one of my father’s to this.
An episcopal priest and an evangelical preacher paused outside the doors of the hall where they’d been attending a meeting. The priest was considering all he had to do – vestry meetings, visitations, confirmation classes – his calendar for the week was overflowing, when the preacher asked if he had dinner plans. “I’m afraid I must get home, and start to work on Sunday’s sermon,” said the priest. The preacher replied, “Oh, come on to dinner, and do what I do – climb in the pulpit Sunday morning, and say whatever the Spirit moves you to.” After discussing this approach for a moment, the priest decided to try this approach, and the two went off to dinner. A week later, they met on the street, and the preacher asked, “…so what did the Spirit say to you this past Sunday?” “Well,” the priest replied, “I have to be honest. As I stood in the pulpit to deliver my sermon, all the Holy Spirit had to say to me was, ‘You’ve been lazy…’”