|
|
The Third Heaven
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 5
Go to the full installment
|
|
|
What's Up This Week
What is faith? Is it belief, deep spiritual knowledge, or something else? Is it vital? Is it alive? In this edition of StoryShare, we have three stories that look at different aspects of faith. David Bales tells about a harried pastor's encounters with a difficult man. When the pastor loses her patience and says something she regrets, the man takes her remark literally -- and shares a profound lesson. Then Peter Andrew Smith portrays a pair of men heading to the inner city to preach about Jesus. One of them is quite concerned over the lack of a specific itinerary… and questions the whole endeavor as an "act of faith." Finally, John Sumwalt shares a whimsical tale about a giant sleeping on the steps of a church -- but it's also a parable about the fossilized state the church can fall into when they merely try to avoid "waking the giant."
* * * * * * * * *
The Third Heaven
by David O. Bales
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Out of the corner of her eye Brenda saw Ryan Owen Lowther coming toward her across the fellowship hall. Church members parted before him like the Red Sea at the Exodus. Brenda balanced her coffee cup on the saucer and regretted that it slowed her freedom of movement.
" 'He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; but a prating fool shall fall,' Proverbs 10:10," Ryan Owen Lowther said in a sing-song voice.
Brenda nodded to him and said, "Uh huh."
Ryan Owen Lowther's face, usually the living description of a flat affect, showed a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth. Ryan Owen Lowther walked away. The van waited for him outside the church building.
Michelle came over. "I saw him smile at you, Pastor," she said with a smirk.
"Oh thanks a lot," Brenda said, returning her cup to the serving counter. Neither coffee nor cookies sounded good now. Two parishioners came up to her with matters to discuss. Brenda tried to listen attentively, but she was distracted by what in the world she was going to do about Ryan Owen Lowther.
For the last three months Sunday's fellowship time after worship had become an ordeal. Ryan Owen Lowther had moved into a nearby adult care home and attended worship every Sunday. During fellowship time he cornered Brenda and quoted scripture to her. Today he didn't have as much time. Worship had gone longer and the van always arrived for him at 12:15. Brenda considered extending worship every Sunday.
His case manager described Ryan Owen Lowther's diagnosis as "high-functioning autism." His memory was amazing. He could tell you what he ate for breakfast seven years ago this past Tuesday, and he often did. When he was a child, a foster parent set him to memorizing the Bible, which he did, completely, in the King James Version.
Last week at social hour Ryan Owen Lowther had more time to hem in Brenda with his quoting the Bible. She got irritated and asked him facetiously, "Ryan Owen Lowther, have you ever forgotten anything?"....
>> More
>> Subscribe to StoryShare
|
What is StoryShare?
StoryShare is a treasure house with hundreds of good stories to share, stories which relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. Many are intensely personal accounts that concern visions, healing, or answers to prayers, but all bear witness to the indescribable joy, comfort and peace that come from a personal encounter with the divine. Our "Good Stories" section includes short fiction, parables much like those Jesus told.
Can I share stories that I have?
Yes, you can. You have good stories to share too, probably more than you know: personal stories, and stories from others that you have used over the years. StoryShare is always looking for "vision stories," stories involving personal experiences of the presence of God. Have you or someone you know heard the voice of God or been healed as a direct answer to prayer? If you have a story that you can share, especially about extraordinary spiritual experiences of ordinary people, send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here (share-a-story@csspub.com) and email your story to us.
>> Subscribe to StoryShare
|
|
|
|
