Terry Paul Choyce
Sept. 24, 2006 Brunswick Street United Church
In his book The Power of Intention Wayne Dyer tells true a story about a young boy named Shyu. Shyu had several physical problems that made it difficult for him to do the things that normal healthy boys do. He attended a special school for kids with disabilities.
One day Shyu and his father were walking by a park where boys were playing baseball. Some of these boys were a bit familiar to the father and son, but they were not friends of theirs. Shyu asked his dad if he could play ball with the boys. His dad knew that Shyu could not hit the ball, and he could not run well at all. He knew these boys would not want Shyu to play. But he looked at his son's hopeful face, then asked if Shyu could have a turn hitting the ball. To his surprise, the boys said yes. They put a helmet on his head and he hobbled out to the plate with the bat. The pitcher got closer and slowly threw the ball. Shyu swung and missed. Another pitch, another miss. Strike 2. Then a boy walked over to Shyu and put his arms around him and held onto the bat. When the ball came they swung and hit the ball about 20 feet. Everyone shouted for Shyu to run to first base. The pitcher walked to the ball, then threw it wildly to right field. Shyu got to 1st, and they yelled at him to run to second. The boy in right field got the ball and wildly threw it into left field. Shyu got to second, and then started for third. Everyone was cheering him on as he hobbled around the bases. They yelled for him to run home. Shyu ran as fast as he could, a huge smile on his face. He made it to home plate 30 seconds before the ball. Everyone cheered, and 18 boys picked up Shyu and carried him on their shoulders as they would a hero, or star of the team. This was the happiest moment of Shyu's life, and his father's life. These young boys had given them the gift of acceptance, encouragement, and friendship. I am sure it is a gift none of them will ever forget.
Normally baseball is a game of competition, but in this instance it was a game of co-operation and compassion. These boys realised it was more important to make Shyu happy than it was to follow the rules of the game. The way they played that day, everyone was a winner. In our own lives, in what ways can we make sure that everyone wins. How can we change what we do and how we think so that we are less competitive, less caught up in the rules and regulations of our culture, and less preoccupied with our own needs and desires. How do we become more compassionate and helpful in our lives?
Our reading from James today starts out with the wise words "Love your neighbour as you love yourself." (2:8) . Verses 14 to 18 say
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."
As Christians we are called to put our words and our beliefs and our faith into action. We need to "walk our talk." If we believe that God wants us to love others, and to be generous to those in need, and to care for people in pain of all kinds, and to keep our planet unpolluted and beautiful, and to treat everything with kindness and respect, then we have to do our best to live as we believe. Jesus scorned the hypocrites who talked like they were helpful and compassionate, but did little or nothing for those in need. All of us, are like those hypocrites, occasionally or all the time. It is easier to talk than to do. Those young baseball players were doers. They saw a disabled boy in need of success, and they gave it to him. They were true Christians.
Brunswick St. United Church has a strong Mission and community outreach program. This church has always been an example of our faith making a positive difference in people's lives. From feeding 70 or more people breakfast during the week, to the food bank, to the clothing centre, to the Christmas program, to the wonderful trustee program, to providing our kitchen for the Food Not Bombs people, to the drop-in counter in our office, our church building is a focal point of service in Halifax. But what about our church congregation. How do each of you walk your talk? How do you put your faith into action?
The writer SallyKochwrote:"Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day." And Mother Theresa wrote "we ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that drop."
Most of us here do not have the time and/or the money to be big-time humanitarians. But everyone of us can recycle our pop cans, smile at the old man on the corner, help a sick person by making them a meal or running an errand or raking up their leaves. The opportunity for us to do something nice comes up many times a day. We can ignore them, or do them. It may cost us a little time or a little money or a little sweat, but it will make a difference in the quality of the lives of those we help, and in the quality of how we live our faith. Jesus reached out to the poor, the needy, the sick, and to those who were considered to be socially unacceptable. So should we all.
I will end with another little story most of you have probably heard before: After a big storm a beach was full of thousands and thousands of dying star fish. A child began throwing the stars back into the ocean, one at a time. A man approached the child and asked "Why are you doing this? There are so many starfish you can never save all of them. Why waste your time trying?" The child smiled at the man as he threw another star into the life giving water. "Well," he said, "I just saved that one. With your help we can save many more."
Be like that child. Instead of seeing the enormity of the problem and getting discouraged before you even start, just throw in one star at a time, and recruit help if you can. Every little bit does help. Every kind act does make a difference. Every smile does spread to another person. Every positive thought does produce positive energy. Every expression of love does produce more love. Yes, there will still be problems. You will not wipe out poverty, hunger, hatred and war by what you do. But you will make a small difference in the amount of love in this world if you do live your faith and walk your talk, and throw many stars into the sea.
