From the Pastor - February 2019

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I recently read through a book of short stories by Joy Williams called Ninety-Nine Stories of God. In one story, a traveler meets three men who are pushing wheelbarrows. He asks them what they are doing. Each gives him a different answer.

The first said: “I toil from sunrise to sunset, and all I receive for my labor is a few francs a day.”

The second said: “I’m happy enough to wheel this wheelbarrow, for I have not had work for many months, and I have a family to feed.”

The third said: “I’m building Chartres Cathedral.”1

The first one seems to be complaining that he doesn’t get enough pay for his hard work.  The second one expresses gratitude for the opportunity to support his family.  The third one is dedicated to doing something extraordinary for God.

Life can sometimes feel like pushing a wheelbarrow around, especially in the church.  Most of the time, it seems like a thankless chore, and we don’t feel rewarded for our effort.  Sometimes, we grasp how fortunate we are to be part of something good and holy, and we recognize the personal benefits.  Often, though, we work diligently together to realize a vision that is greater than ourselves.

What are you doing with the wheelbarrow you are pushing?
 
______________________
1 Joy Williams, Ninety-Nine Stories of God (Portland, OR: Tin House Books, 2016), 30.





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