It was a late Spring day in 1961, sometime in the afternoon. I was in eighth grade. My desk was right next to the window, so I had a clear view of the school yard and parking lot. This particular day was a holiday for the public school students; but not for those who attended a Catholic school. I don’t remember what Sister Bernadine was teaching that afternoon; but I do remember being jolted out of my daydreaming by the shout of the girl next to me, “They’re stealing the bikes.”
There were five or six kids who were taking bikes from the bike racks and riding off with them. In those days, we didn’t have to lock them up for fear of being stolen. That all changed. Sister Bernadine saw what was going on and immediately shouted out the order, “Go get them!” and a bunch of students ran outside and gave chase. I wasn’t one of them. I was basically frozen in fear and sat there watching it all happen.
“Michael, run down to the principal’s office and let her know what happened so she can call the police.” Her words startled me out of my condition and I ran through two buildings to the principal’s office. I remember convincing myself that I was on an errand as noble as running after the bike thieves. I know. It wasn’t. I spent the rest of the school year dealing with ridicule I received from some of the other students. “Chicken. . .wimp“, and a few others that I can’ t repeat. I brought it on myself. I caused it. I paid the price, the effect of my behavior. My first scarlet letter. Funny. . . I can smell the fragrance of lilies right now.
“Blessed is the man whom You have chosen and have caused to approach you. . .”
When the newbie sheep heard me say the word, “You”, meaning God, they began to sing that old Joe Cocker song again.”You are so beautiful, to me. . .You’re everything I hoped for, you’re everything I need. . .” They are such romantics. He is their one, true Love. They are madly in love with him. After all, He did heal their madness. There are a few here at the meeting today who are touched by the song. Tears of Joy.
In the original Hebrew language of the Old Testament, the word ‘chosen‘ means, “to select from among the whole group; to make a choice; to appoint to the position of a son or daughter; to join to; to form a union with; to wed.” I can sense that some of the first-timers to the meeting are getting a little turned-off with the religious sound of the bible verse and the words. My Lily knows the feeling. Religion had brought a sour taste to her mouth too. I mean no disrespect by this, but that’s always a good sign.
“Blessed is the man you have caused to approach you.”
The word ’caused’ means, “cause to come near; cause to approach; to produce the desired action and the effect; bring to Life.” The most simple illustration that helps define the word is the story of Lazarus. He was dead, in the tomb for four days. Jesus approached the tomb and said. “Lazarus, come forth.” Upon hearing Jesus’ words (for the dead can hear Him when He speaks), Lazarus rose from his grave and approached Jesus. The willingness to rise, the power to come forth. . .all was the effect of the Cause. The Divine Cause.
There are dozens of short stories already written in my heart, all chapters in my autobiography called, “The Chicken Who Would be an Eagle.” Yep. There they go again. I knew as soon as it sounded negative, a few of the newbies would be in my face. “Why are you so down on yourself all the time?” But before they had a chance to say anything more, my Lily jumped in to say, “You’ll all see one day, when you hear Him speak to your heart. . .the Divine Word, ‘BUT’. “I’ll give you an example,” she said.
“I am the Vine, you are the branches. In union with Me, you bring forth fruit. BUT apart from Me, on your own, you can do nothing.
It’s a different kind of positive thinking. It’s being certain about the two alphabets. Another example is, “BUT when I am weak, only then am I strong.” The others at the meeting are smiling and nodding their heads in approval. It’s this kind of honesty that draws them to each other. They love that they can be real. . .say what’s on their minds. . .be listened to and understood. . .with little or no need of cross-talk. They all know Who’s the only One with answers. The Only One to fix them. Frankly, the only One they’ll listen to.
“. . .That they may dwell in Your courts: we shall be satisfied with the Goodness of Thy house.”
My Lily is still up at the speaker’s podium. “I know it sounds very religious. Ugh! That taste in your mouth is because of the ingredient that man has added to the Truths concerning God and His ways. Man has poisoned the well by simply sticking his hand into it. Arsenic . . from the root word, arse. From the root word, ass. In the Old Testament, God compares man and his ways to the ways of the colt of a wild ass. . . which some say is the most stupid animal alive.” Lily and other flowers from the valley are such a wonder. Filling the air with the fragrance of the knowledge of God and His ways.
We may be weak. We may be tired and weary. We may be fearful and anxious. We may have caused every difficult moment in our lives BUT, “We shall be satisfied.” The Hebrew meaning for satisfied is, “filled to satisfaction; filled with God; be full and overflowing; to be nothing yet possess everything; to have plenty.” Plenty of Goodness. Plenty of God’s Beauty. Filled with the Fruit of His Golden Tree. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Strength, Wisdom, Faith, Self-control.
He is the first Cause. The sheep of His flock are the effect of His own will and work. And one thing that they all have in common are the troubles they’ve seen. . .that they all seemed to have caused. Each one shares the tomb with Lazarus. Dead in their fears, dead in their anxieties, dead in their addictions, dead in their depression, dead in their guilt and self-condemnation, dead in their ignorance of how dead they are. BUT. . .“Blessed is the man You have chosen and caused to approach You.” Come forth out of your tomb, into the Light. . .into the Sonshine of a new day. Welcome first-timers. Welcome little Dumbo. Welcome soaring eagle. My name is Mike. . .and I’m a recovering colt of a wild ass.
A Good Moment 